Prez #4 Review

Written by Mark Russell
Art by Dominike "Domo" Stanton
Cover price $2.99
Realease date September 16th 2015

Topical

*SPOILERS below, summary and score at the bottom*

Prez #4 is used for Beth Ross to reevaluate the nations defense protocols.
The issue opens with the nations solution to immigration, which is kill anyone who tries to come into the country illegally. The whole issue revolves around the sentries and how Beth reacts to their actions. We see a sentry kill an innocent boy playing soccer, the operators controlling the sentries are becoming careless with their power. We see Beth question the morality of the sentries and the blame she is now receiving for their behavior since now she is the president. Beth then decides to get rid of the sentry program completely while senator Thorn wants to enhance the program.

Green Lantern 75th Anniversary: Top 5 Fridays: Green Lantern Mythos Moments

Welcome back to another Top 5 Fridays:Green Lantern 75th edition. 

We have covered some of the greatest Lanterns and their villains, and it made me realize that the Lantern Mythos is probably one of the largest and most detailed story lines in all of comics. It has been full of epic stories and moments that really show how amazing the Lantern corps actually are. 

Today we'll be covering any and all ring wielder moments of all time. As usual, this is my personal list, so if you don't see a moment you like I apologize. Also there will be SPOILERS! Enough babbling, LET'S BEGIN!

Doomed #4 Review

Written by: Scott Lobdell

Art by: Javier Fernandez, Ulises Arreola and Corey Breen

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: September 16, 2015

The Monster Inside

I guess everyone knows by now, but if not, let me drop a knowledge bomb on you...Doomed has been canceled.  The last issue will be November's #6 and while the book hasn't burned up the sales charts, I have been a fan.  Listen, I know this book is far from perfect, but it really had the potential to be a fun romp with a reluctant teen hero whose name is not Peter Parker.  I joke, but in a perfect world, this book could have been DC's answer to Marvel's web slinger.  Unfortunately, this is far from a perfect world and Scott Lobdell used the first handful of issues to give us everything but Reiser and Doomed.  That's another thing that has bothered me since this book kicked off in June...what do we call the Doomed monster?  Don't discount how much word of mouth helps a book and without a defined name, it really suffers.  I was going to call him "Henry", but I think I'll go with "Doomed". No, I think "Monster" is better.  Crap, let's just call him the "Doomed Monster".  No, Lobdell does use "Doomed" this issue.  Yes, I just proved my point and taught you a lesson in marketing at the same time.  You're welcome.  Let's get on with the review...

Green Lantern: Lost Army #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Javier Pina, Chris Sotomayor, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

Let's Get On With It

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Hey, you all know that Universe that existed before our own?  Yeah, well that's where our Green Lantern Corps are and even though we're four issues in at this point.....with only two more to go, that's about all we know from this comic.  It's been a tough read because I love the Lanterns and picking this series up month after month has just been a real disappointment because nothing besides space battle after space battle has really taken place and after each issue I've just been left scratching my head with a stupid look on my jerk off face.  What I'm getting at is....... Let's Get On With It!  We need some answers and at this point it seems like it's really unlikely that we'll be given a decent explanation about what the point of this series was about, but chin up all you sad sacks because it could still happen.  Our heroes have teamed up with Relic at this point, but before anything could be realized or theorized, some light pirates have shown up and as we saw in our cliffhanger last month, it looks like Arisia might have gone down in battle....... Lousy light draining beams.  Let's dive into this issue and see what's what.

Robin: Son of Batman #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Patrick Gleason
Art By: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz, Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

Let's Beat Up Children

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Robin's up to his ears in atoning for his Year of Blood and while his constant attempts in righting the wrongs he once committed might sound tedious and a bit boring........ well, they are getting a little old, but hopefully the tedium will be relieved with his new partner Maya Ducard, who happens to be the daughter of the assassin Nobody from the first story arc of Batman and Robin.......who Damian totally killed.  Yeah, the friendship isn't quite there yet, but it has room to blossom.  As we saw in the previous issue, the new Nobody decided that she didn't want to follow in her father's footsteps and contacted her father's old partner to tell him that she's calling it quits.......which to the partner meant that her father was and I guess since we're getting the partner in this book and that it happens to be Deathstroke, I guess it's safe to assume that Slade isn't a fan of quitters.  So let's jump into this issue and see if we can catch a glimpse of an old fashioned child ass whoopin'........ that's a thing everyone wants to see right?  I know it can't just be me........ Let's check it out.

Green Lantern 75th Anniversary: Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written by: Ron Marz
Art by: Fred Haynes, Dennis Kramer

Release Date: January 31, 1994

One Man Lantern Corps.

This is the second part of a three part review. If you didn't read the first part click HERE .

Last time we left the Hal Jordan of the past, after mourning the loss of his entire city, he became angry after the guardians scolded him for misusing his powers. Rather than come quietly, Hal punched the projection of the guardian in the face and took off for the stars...to get more power.

I loved the first part of this arc, both then and now, so this second part actually has a lot to live up to. Its time to see how far Hal Jordan is willing to go to get the power...

Black Canary #4 Review

Written by: Brenden Fletcher
Art by: Pia Guerra, Lee Loughridge and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

Solo Act

Black Canary has been one of my favorites of the DC You.  It's easy to say that the awesome art and slow burn story are the reasons, but there's something else at work here.  It's a feels type of thing and without being able to fully explain it, I love this book and it's characters.  In fact, Ditto is one of my favorite characters right now and she hasn't even uttered word one.  Last issue, Brenden Fletcher expanded the mythos of Black Canary by forever tying her together with Ditto and I couldn't have been happier.  However, the issue ended with the unthinkable...Ditto was kidnapped and it wasn't by aliens or Kurt Lance...it was by Bo Maeve!  I knew she was up to something and have been praying that she is on the receiving end of a Canary Cry this issue.  Did my wish come true?  Let's find out...

Superman/Wonder Woman #21 Review

Written by: Peter J. tomasi
Art by: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Mark Irwin, Sean Parsons, Scott Hanna, Wil Quintana,
             Ulises Arreola, Tomeu Morey and Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

The Truth Hurts

Well, the arc that I thought was an event is coming to a close across the the Super books and while I haven't been a huge fan of what we've got so far, this issue has me intrigued.  Last issue, Superman went off to visit the President and after an odd run-in with Parasite, was given the whereabouts of his captured friends.  Meanwhile, Wonder Woman was a step ahead of him and the issue ended with a strange scene of Wonder Woman using her lasso to find out what each of them knew about what happened to Superman.  It ended with Lois Lane being interrogated and my mind raced with ideas of Lois spilling her guts about her love of Clark...to Supes current girlfriend.  Oh snap!  Well, did Lois dish and did she live to tell the tale?  Let's find out...

Wonder Woman #44 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Meredith Finch
Art By: David Finch, Jonathan Glapion, Brad Anderson, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

Arrow In The Shoulder Blues

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Wonder Woman is one of the best looking books that DC is putting out and Meredith Finch has done a damn fine job in making this series her own while still incorporating elements of the previous run...... Yeah, I know, that's some pretty awesome shit right there.  As we've previous seen, Wonder Woman has her hands full with Donna Troy escaping her cell on Olympus and a new villain named Aegeus coming for her God of War hood........ Which would be cooler if the character wasn't a sniveling piece of shit, but I guess that will make it all the more worth it when he finally gets his.  Which hopefully will be soon because in the previous issue the Three Fates have been murdered and before Wonder Woman could find Donna Troy to see if she was responsible, Aegeus ambushed her and shot Diana with a mystical golden arrow....... then her eyes began to bleed and it was really awful.  Let's see if our hero can pull through and get to the bottom of the Fates' murder while taking out that asshole Aegues.  Let's check it out.

Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

By: Peter J. Tomasi

Art By: Alisson Borges and Dave McCaig

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: September 16, 2015

The Whiniest Robin

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Surely, the expectations that Batman puts upon his protégés are high. Yet, perhaps even higher still are the expectations Batman’s sidekicks put on him. When you are an icon, a symbol of justice and goodness, it isn’t possible for the person behind that symbol to fully measure up. So goes the second installment of Jason “Arkham Knight” Todd’s origin within the framework of the video game-based Arkhamverse, where we see flashback scenes of Todd’s earliest days as Robin and learn a little more about this dark character. Is Jason Todd’s teen angst interesting enough to warrant a look? Read my review and I’ll tell ya!

Martian Manhunter #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Rob Williams
Art By: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Gabe Eltaeb, Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

Personality Problems

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Oh baby, it's time to get back to the series that came out of nowhere and surprised the shit out of me in how good it is.  I think I may have started every Martian Manhunter review so far this way or a similar way........ but Martian Manhunter?  Who knew?  Rob Williams has been knocking this series out of the park so far with his interpretation of our favorite Martian....... who happens to be a weapon of the White Martians for their plan to resurrect Mars by destroying Earth...... Yeah, it isn't very clear what the endgame is yet, but when you see your title character kill himself in the second issue, you know that shit has gotten real.  Anyway, let's jump into this issue and see if J'onn Dumpty can put himself back together again since apparently he scattered his consciousness all over the world to pull a Flash Gordon and save everyone of us.  Let's check it out.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Episode #36: Haters Gonna Hate

Jim and Eric get together this week to talk comics, Star Wars...who am I kidding?!?  They get together to bitch and moan about the shit storm surrounding Eric's less than flattering review of Batman #44.  It really had Eric down the whole week and Jim does nothing to help his buddy feel better.  They also breakdown most of this week's books (including Batman #44) and have a very extended version of The Other Side talking Star Wars with Ryan.  Of course, there is also DC Comics News, Listener Mail and Reggie's Recklessness.  It's another long one, but we hope you enjoy it.

Injustice: Year Four #20 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Bruno Redondo, Juan Albarran, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 15, 2015

An Injustice Indeed

I really enjoyed last week's Injustice not only because it was a Harley issue, but because it was a good Harley issue.  I love Harley in this book, but up until last week, Brian Buccellato didn't seem to have a grip on what made her so great in this Universe...her heart.  Well, he does now.  Harley was so great last issue that even if it felt like a side story, I was having too much fun to care,  The issue ended with Harley, Billy Batson and Hippolyta using a Mother Box to end up...well, we didn't find that out. Of course, there is still the matter of Poseidon trying to turn Paradise Island into just another part of the surrounding ocean.  That's where we pick up this week, but does that make a good issue?  Let's find out...

Superman/Wonder Woman #21 Preview

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Jaime Mendoza, Doug Mahnke
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015

The epic “Truth” arc hits close to the heart as dark secrets come to light, forcing Superman and Wonder Woman to question whether their relationship can work in this new world of identities revealed and questionable actions. 

If Peter Tomasi can't sell me on the "Truth", I don't think anyone can.  It looks like Firestorm is joining the story and while I didn't think anyone could beat President Obama in the guest star category, the Nuclear Man may just do it.  Things don't look good for him, however, but we'll have to wait until Wednesday to see what happens.

Black Canary #4 Preview

Written by: Brenden Fletcher
Art by: Pia Guerra, Lee Loughridge and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 15, 2015

Guest artist Pia Guerra (Y: THE LAST MAN) joins the series! Dinah is on the hunt for her kidnapped guitarist, Ditto, and when she finds the person responsible, you better believe she’ll make them pay! Also: Uncover the secret of the band’s former singer, and how she plans to exact revenge on them for kicking her out!

Hey, I think that the solicit is talking about the same person...don't tell anybody, okay?!?  I love this book and give Brenden Fletcher full credit for not only kicking ass, but really nailing the feel of being on the road with a cool ass band. To top that off, he just threw in one of the coolest reveals ever last issue like it ain't no thang.  Believe me, it was a thang to this guy. It was a big thang.  I can't wait to read this issue and may have to go save Ditto myself...I love that little girl/alien/guitar god. Plus, the issue is named after a Doors song that fits the ongoing story so, so well!  Well played, Brenden.

Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi

Art By: Alison Borges and Dave McCaig

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: August 26, 2015

Under the Dead Hood

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Those of us who have played Batman: Arkham Knight by Rocksteady Games probably know that the identity of the Arkham Knight is former Robin and assumed corpse Jason Todd. I mean, the video game has been out since June 23^rd, for crying out loud, if you hadn’t found out until this intro to a review of Batman: Arkham Knight then you either didn’t care or you have just emerged from a cryogenic chamber. This digital-first comic details Jason Todd’s origin—his genesis, if you will—so if you hadn’t discovered the Arkham Knight’s identity and decided to read this comic, then you screwed yourself anyway. Should you even bother checking this out in the first place? Read on and see!

Wonder Woman '77 #8 Review

Written by: Marc Andreyko
Art by: Richard Ortiz, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 3, 2015

Cat Scratch Fever

I really enjoy this book.  It's enough that it's a great Wonder Woman comic, but throw in the '77 television universe and a great thing becomes even better.  I've mentioned it before, but I will at least a hundred more times...It's obvious that Marc Andreyko knows and loves the source material.  I.m glad because so do I.

Doctor Fate #4 Preview

Written By: Paul Levitz
Art By: Sonny Liew
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015


Life is getting harder for the new Doctor Fate. Now, an ancient god wants to destroy him, a mystical flood threatens to drown him, and the riddle of the Sphinx eludes him. Also, homework.

Pretty much, I look at this solicit and I see everything that we've already dealt with from this series........ so really nothing new......except for maybe that riddle of the Sphinx, but from what I've seen of this series so far, I'm not getting excited.  I know what you're thinking, "Negative Nancy Shea is at it again", but no, I love Dr. Fate but from what I've seen this is no Dr. Fate.

Robin: Son of Batman #4 Preview

Written By: Patrick Gleason
Art By: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 16, 2015


It’s Robin vs. Deathstroke! The troubles in Maya’s past come back to haunt her. Will Damian and Goliath be forced to leave her to fend for herself, or can they find a way to help their new ally?

Holy shit, I can't wait to see Damian take on Deathstroke...... is it my birthday or something?  I'm still on the fence with this title, mostly because I think I want it to be more of a Robin book than a Damian book, but I dig the new Nobody and with Deathstroke's inclusion here, I can't wait to see what goes down.

Red Hood/Arsenal #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Scott Lobdell
Art By: Denis Medri, Blond, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 9, 2015

Home Is Where The Evil Is

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

While I loved Red Hood and The Outlaws while it was going on, I have to say that this series has been a joy to read right from the get go....... yeah, I had some trouble with the art initially, I have since gotten over that because it seems that with each issue it keeps getting better...... and who doesn't love that?   The only complaint that I can make is all very personal because I loved the way our title characters looked before this title and I don't think that I'll ever get behind their new looks.  In the previous issue we saw our heroes for hire go to Detroit to meet their new employer, but it turned out that the business wasn't on the up and up when they found out their employer was the physical embodiment of evil itself, named Underbelly.  After giving this disgusting monster a old fashioned Red Hood and Arsenal workout, our two heroes decided to go to Gotham because if this thing can arise wherever evil is present, well there's no better place to go looking for him........ It's just too bad that Gotham has a new Batman in town who doesn't take kindly to vigilantes and outlaws.  Let's check out this issue to see how our heroes make out.  Let's check it out.

Weird Thoughts: DC Comics Cancels Five Monthly Books and Two Digital Titles in December

Hey guys, Jim here and I really don't want to be.  While listeners of our podcast (the latest HERE) probably think that I am a Negative Nelly, I actually hate when I hear bad news...like seven DC books being canceled.  I'm sure that most fans already know, but when DC released it's solicits today, Doomed, The Omega Men, Gotham by Midnight, Lobo, Justice League United, Batman '66 and Sensation Comics had the infamous "Final Issue" slapped on them.  I figured I'd write this article as a kind of news story, but more a collection of thoughts I have about each title.  Here's a spoiler...this news really sucks!

Batman: Arkham Knight #30 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Ig Guara, Julio Ferreira and Andrew Dalhouse
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 11, 2015

Badass

I have really been enjoying the Arkham Knight tie-in book because it really doesn't feel like a tie-in at all.  It's bigger and better than that.  The best part is, you don't have to play the game it ties into to enjoy it.   One thing that I love no matter if it's a game or a comic is seeing underused villains shine. Villains like Calendar Man.  It's not that I even have a long history with the character, but that's the appeal for me.  It makes everything fresh and exciting.  Of course, I'm saying all this because Calender Man is in this issue and whether you are a fan or not, I think you'll have to admit, he's a damn badass.  So, does Calender Man being a badass make the issue badass as well?  Let's find out...