Batman Beyond 2.0 #29 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel
Art by: Phil Hester
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 16, 2014

Phantastic

This week's issue of Batman Beyond has so much to live up too.  Seriously, last week was the best issue of this series and one of the most shocking and satisfying reads I've had in a while.  Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel are smart fellas and don't try to top last week, but calm things down just a bit.  That's not saying it's filler or unnecessary because that's far from the truth.  We get some pretty big revelations and a cliffhanger that sets up this final part of the story to be something special.

Smallville: Chaos #11 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Agustin Padilla
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 15, 2014

I'm Bleeding

I am such a huge fan of the Smallville comic.  If you ask me, a bad issue of Smallville is better than a lot of other comics best.  Until this week, that is. Something weird is happening.  As we get closer to the conclusion of the current Chaos mini series, the issues are getting worse not better.  That is not a good trend at all.

Batman #34 Review

Written by: Gerry Duggan
Art by: Matteo Scalera
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Dark Night for the...

With Zero Year just ending and the Futures End Event coming up in weeks, Batman (the book) takes a little break with a one-shot by Gerry Duggan and Matteo Scalera.  Taking a break doesn't mean that this issue is not important because it feels like it has some weight to it. It's also really dark and damn good.  I hate to say it, but it's also nice for Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo to get a break too.  They've been working hard for a while and we don't want them getting burned out now do we?  Batman (the hero) doesn't rest, so while Snyder and Capullo are off on some tropical island, the book is in good hands.

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Superboy Costumes

The other week I did a list of Robin costumes in the New 52 and it seemed to go over rather well.  With that in mind I thought to myself, what else could I do that's along the same lines and be relatively easy to jive with my lazy demeanor?  Well as you've already realized we'll be dealing with Superboy's costumes and while we haven't had a huge wardrobe change like the Robins in the New 52, we do have an entire history of the character to pick and choose costumes from.  This week we saw the last issue of Superboy not including next month's event title Futures End Superboy because I simply don't include it and I figured we'd honor the Boy of Steel's series run and use this Top 5 time to talk about Kon-El and his other iterations that have flown throughout the DC Universe.  So get ready to check out the Top 5 Superboy Costumes.

New Suicide Squad #2 Review

Written by: Sean Ryan
Art by: Tom Derenick
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 14, 2014

Boom!

The first issue of Suicide Squad did a decent job of setting up the team and the book itself.  It was action packed and Sean Ryan gave the reader a team that was just as much against each other than any villains.  We also found out that Vic Sage had taken over leadership of the Squad with Amanda Waller being forced into a secondary role.  Then it was off to Russia where all Hell broke loose.  Without spoiling too much, the Squad is still in Russia and Hell is still breaking loose.

Constantine #17 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Edgar Salazar, Jay Leisten
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Somewhere In Time

Constantine Always Has The Coolest Covers

Right off the bat I want to say that I love the fact that this issue is called Bits and Pieces and whether it's true or not, I'm saying Ray Fawkes is giving me a nod here.  Yeah I'm pretty vain, but let's get to why you're all here.  Last time in Constantine, our pseudo hero went to an old mage to see if he could undo the spell Zatanna placed on him to try and get him to be a better man.  I can understand completely why he'd want that nonsense out because being a better man sounds exhausting.  Before the spell could be concluded, we saw that elsewhere Tannarak and Sargon use the kill switch spell that Papa Midnite sold them in what seemed to be a betrayal against Constantine, because he's been spouting about a grand plan to take down the Cold Flame and in the end we saw our brash Brit go to pieces as the spell unmade him.  We've seen Constantine overcome death before, let's see how he plans on doing it this time.  Let's check it out.

Birds of Prey #34 Review

Written by: Christy Marx
Art by: Robson Rocha
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

So Long and Thanks for Nothing

Let me start this review with a little secret.  I wanted to love Birds of Prey.  I wanted this to be my book that everyone hated, but somehow I loved.  Then I could go around telling people that they just didn't understand the dense story lines and layers that only true Birds of Prey lovers recognize.  Yea, I'm one of those guys.  Well, it didn't quite work out.  The book sucked.  Yes, I kept reading it hoping it would become good, but now the wait is over.  Not because it finally got better, but because it was canceled.  This is the last issue and it's about time.  How it lasted this long is ridiculous.  If you need an example of how bad Birds of Prey is, pick up this issue. Better yet, just take my word for it and forget this run ever happened.  We'd all be better off.

Batgirl #34 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Gail Simone
Art By: Fernando Pasarin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

WIN!

Last time in Batgirl we saw our hero team up with Huntress and Black Canary to get to the bottom of Knightfall's plans.  To do so they kidnapped one of her Lieutenants, Bleak Michael and sweet talk the information out of him.  In the end we find out that Knightfall has given all the criminals in the Cherry Hill section of Gotham a deadline to get out or be killed.  It seems she means it too, because she's hired mercs and meta humans from around the world to carry out her task.  In the end Batgirl calls in all the favors she has, to meet the challenge of saving Gotham.  Let's see how the siege of Gotham turns out as we check out this issue of Batgirl.

New DC Title Announced: Gotham By Midnight

It was announced today that beginning on November 26, we'll have yet another title to the New 52 lineup, in the form of Gotham By Midnight, written by Ray Fawkes and art by Ben Templesmith.  It's a supernatural spinoff of Batman Eternal, featuring Jim Corrigan leading a team of cops against strange things that the police and Batman can't really deal with.  For any of you that have been reading Batgirl over the past few months you'll know that Gotham has started to become a bit of a spooky place outside of it's normal lunatics and murderers and to answer that call we'll have Jim Corrigan and his team bumping in the night like a BPRD or an X-Files.  Even though Corrigan is the host of The Spectre, Ray Fawkes says that the series will have Jim dealing more with things, so that The Spectre doesn't have to get involved with all his wrathfulness.  So on top of G.I. Zombie I guess we'll have a new horror title starting in November and while I'm a fan of horror comics, I think I'd rather have a Spectre series, but I'll wait and see before I make any judgments.  One little gripe though is that it seems like all these new titles have to deal with Batman or Gotham and it feels like the New 52 is already over-saturated with these two elements.  Hopefully it's good and lasts because DC's Dark titles seem to be dropping like flies.

Worlds' Finest #26 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Paul Levitz
Art By: Tyler Kirkham, Scott Kolins
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Earth 2....... Kind Of

Terribly Misleading Cover

Last issue of Worlds' Finest we saw the finest thing that I've witnessed since the beginning of this title.  Our two heroes were heading home to a possible direction for this series.  Now that's the gist of it, but the full recap includes the characters being over sexualized as they spend their last day on Prime Earth and enjoying the little things our Earth has to offer.  But this all leads to the Desaad finding out that they're leaving him behind and he goes to the lab to make his way to Earth 2 as well.  One of Karen's scientists, Tanya Spears has been showcased in this series lately and apparently has the ability to overcome Desaad, and it's a good thing because she opens the gateway and our heroes finally head home.  Now it was a little confusing to me whether or not Desaad made the journey, but we'll find out here as we sit back and take a look at Worlds' Finest #26.  Let's check it out.

Superman/Wonder Woman #11 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Thony Silas
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Zoned Out

This issue continues the Doomed story with Superman Doomed [Last Sun]: Chapter 2.  Rolls right off the tongue, right?  Don't get me started.  The Doomed story has been up and down, but after three strong issues last week, things haven't been better.  Until this week. Yes, Charles Soule brings us back to Earth with an issue that while fun, doesn't do much to further the overall story and may even hamper it.

Green Lantern Corps #34 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Van Jensen
Art By: Bernard Chang
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Love Hurts

Last time we dove into the Green Lantern Corps, we saw the end of the Uprising battle as the Corps overpowered the Durlan menace.  But the victory didn't last too long because we found out that Fatality was a Durlan impostor this whole time and after consuming one of the living energy Zezzites, the Durlan Fatality became a Daxamite complete with Daxamite powers.  It took the entire Corps, but our heroes were able to take the last Durlan/Daxamite/Fatality down and John Stewart swore to track down his lady love.  So let's see how his pursuit is going in this time of peace for the Green Lantern Corps.

Harley Quinn #9 Review

Written by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by: John Timms
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Private Dancer

This issue of Harley Quinn continues giving us a peek at the daily life of a gal from Brooklyn.  Sure, she doesn't exactly have a "normal" life, but isn't that why we love her?  This issue in particular is just a madcap romp that may not push the book forward story wise, but has great character moments, is hilarious and is really sexy.  In other words, it's just another fun issue of Harley Quinn. That's fine with me.

The New 52: Futures End #15 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Scot Eaton
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

No Fate

Time for our quick recap to get you though this week's Five Years From Now.  First off Frankenstein, Amethyst and Hawkman crash landed on an alien planet while they were searching for a Stormwatch survivor.  Well after a fight with robots they discovered that The Engineer is the survivor and it seems that she's been taken over by Brainiac and subdues our heroes.  With a strange twist we also saw that the Nth metal is affecting Frankenstein and possibly making him human.  Grifter was attacked by a stealth OMAC and since they aren't supposed to exist, Fifty Sue becomes intrigued and wants to find the transparent terror.  A few weeks ago Superman was unable to prevent Rampage from breaking out a crazed geneticist named Ethan Boyer from prison and later Ethan betrays Rampage by making her rampagier instead of making her human again, so Superman will have his hands full instead of tracking him down.  Last thing you'll need to know is that Constantine is tracking a evil that seems to be related to Brainiac as does a metal monster that was unleashed by treasure hunters searching for fortune and glory in a sealed temple.  Now the monster is killing everything in it's path as it makes it's way to whatever it's destination is.  That should be everything you need to know going in, so let's check out this issue.

Superboy #34 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Aaron Kuder
Art By: Jorge Jimenez
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 13, 2014

Fight To The Finish

Okay it's the final issue of Superboy, not including his foray into Five Years From Now and with it the last recap I'll be doing for this series.  It's a sad day indeed.  Last month in Superboy we saw what happens when a Jon Lane Kent touches a Jon Lane Kent from a previous time.  No not Time Cop thankfully, it seems that when two people that have time traveled as much as Jon Lane Kent touch each other it creates a Superboy pocket universe to stop the paradox.  Which seems to mean that both Jon Lane Kents and their clone Kon become one ultimate god of this pocket universe.  You following so far?  It also means that all the Superboys from the 52 parallel universes are brought here within this N.O.W.H.E.R.E. facility pocket universe and they have to fight for supremacy.  Too bad that Jon Lane Kent brought his new friends from STAR Labs to the adventure because now they're stuck here too.  In the end of the issue the Superboy god turned his friends into the ultimate versions of themselves from the mulitverse to give them a chance to survive the Superboy Thunderdome, before the psychotic Jon Lane Kent fought Kon and Jon within the body to claim it for himself and dispelling the two hero Superboys.  I swear I'm making this as simple as possible.  So let's see what happens in our final issue of Superboy when the evil Jon Lane Kent tries to kill our heroes.

Injustice: Year Two #19 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Mike S. Miller
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 12, 2014

What Color are You?

Last week in Injustice, Mogo shot the opening salvo and the War began.  For those waiting for the trademark Injustice craziness, it must have seemed like the good old days.  I personally have really enjoyed Year Two, but I can see where some were getting antsy for more action (and death).  This week is more like a combination of a Year One shocker with Year Two character building.  While the overall story stalls a bit, what happens at the end makes it so worth it.

The Ravagers #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

It's time again to look at another comic book that faced the chopping block over at DC and had the audacity to be cancelled before we were a site and could review it.  But we're not letting that stop us, no we're going to dig up these Lost Boys and take a crack at them anyway.  So sit back as we take a look at this Teen Titans spin off, The Ravagers and see if the first issue holds up or if it's doom was written in the stars right off the bat.  Let's check it out.

Written By: Howard Mackie
Art By: Ian Churchill
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 30, 2012

Escape From N.O.W.H.E.R.E.

Our story begins with you being completely lost if haven't read Teen Titans Annual, Superboy #9, Legion

Lost #9 and Teen Titans #9.  With that said I immediately regret doing this Lost Boys review, but if you hang with me I'll try to get the gist across to you.  The story begins with a group of metas escaping Harvest's Colony, (think of a meta hunger games) led by one of Harvest's former scientists Dr. Caitlin Fairchild, who you might remember from Wildstorm's Gen 13.

Old Time Tuesday: Adventures of Superman ep 17 The Steam Plant

The Wolf and Keno are still at it.  First they break out of jail and now they do the unthinkable...kidnap Lois Lane!  Actually, that's pretty standard practice for these shows. Well, at least they mix it up by running through a Steam Plant.  Oh, those crazy villains. This episode originally aired on March 20, 1940.  Enjoy!

Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #13 Review

Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Freddie Williams II
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 11, 2014

Pick a Card

Last week, we got a cool look at Arcane Earth with the trio of Supergirl, Zod and Zatanna.  I liked the issue and hoped Dan Abnett would continue with such a fun team.  This week, my hopes were dashed once again.  I realize the fun of a book like this is seeing the diverse Earths and characters, but without really getting to know them, I find myself not caring about their plight or the story in general. As I hinted at, we get a new Earth and new characters this week, but this is a bit different.  While there isn't much action and the bulk of the story takes place in one room, Abnett gives us one of the best issues of the series.  It's rich in character and through that we even learn how this Earth works.  I guess it helps that it features two of the greatest villains, the Joker and Lex Luthor.

Batman: Eternal #18 Review

Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Andy Clarke
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

Three's Company

Batman: Eternal #18 switches creative teams with Tim Seeley and Andy Clarke taking over for Ray Fawkes and Dustin Nguyen.  It's the nature of a weekly book (especially this one) and while this issue is an abrupt change of pace from the last couple, Seeley makes it fun.  In fact, this may be the funniest issue of Eternal.  You see, Batman: Eternal #18 is all about the teamups.

Swamp Thing #34 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Javier Pina
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

The Big Green

Last issue of Swamp Thing ended with a pretty gruesome cliffhanger.  Brother Jonah witnessed the hideously transformed Wolf and all he got was a slash to the stomach.  That would make an awful t-shirt, but it had me anticipating this book.  Jonah's such a good guy and he just had his first "fun" in almost a century only to be left in a puddle of his own blood.  Is it curtains for Jonah or is this all part of Lady Weed's plan?

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays: More Batman Toys!

Since we looked at the Super Powers collection of toys last week, I figured I'd continue the trend and look at some more DC Comics toys that ruled my life as a child.  Now as most of you know, when Batman hit the big screens in '89 it was an all encompassing force that took the nation by storm.  If it seems like I'm being over dramatic, just understand that I was a kid and Batman and superheroes were my life at that point......... It doesn't look like much has changed actually.

Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet #6 Review

Written by: Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman
Art by: Ty Templeton
Cover Price: $1.99
Release Date: July 30, 2014

F.U.N.

Last issue of Batman'66 Meets the Green Hornet featured the two marquee stars reluctantly teaming up to figure out where the Joker and General Gumm took their sidekicks.  Meanwhile, Robin and Kato are told that if they don't fight to the death, they both be fish food for a Great White Shark.  It was a one of the best issues in the series mixing just the right amount of camp and action with snappy dialogue and great set pieces.  Thankfully, this issue continues the fun.

Batman: The Jiro Kuwata Batmanga #4 Review

Writtten and Illustrated by: Jiro Kuwata
Translated by: Sheldon Drzka
Cover Price: $1.99
Release Date: July 26, 2014

Dr. Faceless Chapter One

Call me crazy, but I am in love with Jiro Kuwata's Batmanga.  It is Batman '66 with a Japanese twist and it's so much fun.  Dated, funny craziness.  There really isn't anything quite like it.  I know it's not for everyone, but if you are looking for a unique take on Batman, one where the writer admitted to not fully understanding the source material, then you may fall in love with this book as well.

This issue starts the Dr. Faceless arc.  DC Comics made the right decision starting this series with the better known Lord Death Man. It was a great introduction, but I really enjoyed this issue.  We get an origin story that is fun and a villain who is truly insane.

Justice League 3000 #9 Review

Written by: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Howard Porter and Chris Batista
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

Hal 3000

Justice League 3000 is my guilty pleasure.  Even when an issue hasn't hit the mark, I still enjoy it.  I can't help myself.  It's a fun title with great dialogue and wonderful art.  Yes, the story has moved at a snail's pace and it's convoluted to say the least, but it's such a unique title that fills a void in the New 52.  It has taken the place of such titles like Dial H and Threshold that sadly went the way of the Dodo much too soon.  Hopefully, JL 3000 will stick around longer because Giffen and DeMatteis deserve it.

Aquaman and the Others #5 Review

Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Lan Medina
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2104

There's Going to be a Killing...

To say I haven't been a fan of Aquaman and the Others is an understatement.  It's one of my least favorite books to review.  Why? Well, while I like some members of the team, I don't think Dan Jurgens has done enough to make each stand out.  I also haven't been a fan of the dialogue which I've found to be stiff and generic. Furthermore,  Lan Medina's art has been hit-or-miss, often in the same issue.  That my friends doesn't equal out to a strong book. That said, this issue is a bit of a turn in the right direction.  Some of the same problems rear their ugly heads, but in the end, I have a better feeling going forward than I have since the series started.

Batwing #34 Review

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Eduardo Pansica
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

A Family Affair

When I look back at Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray's run on Batwing it will be with positive memories.  I'm sure I'll think of the fun stories that dealt with Luke's personal life as well as busting heads in the Gotham night.  Looking at it right now, however, I can only think of what went wrong.  The early part of the run (the part I'll remember fondly) was fun and exciting.  Luke Fox was such a fresh choice to become Batman and his energy was infectious.  Then something happened.  I'm not sure, but I've had a sneaking suspicion that Palmiotti and Gray were "asked" to make Batwing more grim and dark to fit better in with the rest of the Bat titles.  Whoever made the decision, I wish they would have kept their mouth shut.  Gone were the awesome fighting tournaments and fun villains to make way for Menace and Family disaster.  Like Luke says himself in this issue, "It started out as fun and so much bad stuff has happened it doesn't feel worth it."  I just might have to agree.

Green Arrow #34 Review

Written by: Jeff lemire
Art by: Andrea Sorrentino
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

This is the End...

If you are reading this you probably are aware that this is the final issue of Green Arrow with Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino.  When they took over with issue #17 they instantly turned the book around and made it one of the best in the New 52.  Lemire's great storytelling coupled with Sorrentino's awesomely unique art had me hooked from that issue and they never let me down since.  So, it's with a sad heart that I review this issue and say goodbye to Lemire and Sorrentino and also Green Arrow.  I will continue reading it, but Eric is going to take over reviewing it starting with the Futures End issue next month.  As the modern day poets, MTKO, said "So ima put ya clothes out on the lawn, Leave my heart and just move on...this is your goodbye goodbye song".  Well said guys, well said.