Harley Quinn #24 Review

No Asylum 

Written by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by: Chad Hardin, Alex Sinclair and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

I like Harley, I really do.  Sure, I may not fully agree with the current "over saturation fascination" (that sounds like a Human League song !) that DC Comics has with the character, but  as long as the stories are good, I'll support every and all of her books.  Like I said, I am a fan and no matter what my review scores add up to, I  really like Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti and it is them that made me fall in love with Harley in the first place.  Yep, I didn't care either way about Harley until reading this run and I still stand by my claim that the Harley/Power Girl arc (not the mini) was one of the best stories of 2014.  However, it is 2016 and I have fallen off the book a bit.  While the Gang of Harleys is a great concept, it didn't pan out as well as I'd have liked, but I still have high hopes because Harley is going back to Arkham.  So, does this issue get me back on the Harley trolley and start off another great arc of the book?  Let's find out...

Emergency Podcast - What is DC Comics Rebirth?

Jim, Eric and Reggie were going to talk about the solicits for this week's podcast and then news starting dropping about "Rebirth".  So, Jim finally got his way and the guys do an Emergency Podcast.  Things go off the rails a bit, but who wouldn't expect that, right?  They do talk about the April Solicits and what they think this Rebirth thing is all about.  Possibly.

Titans Hunt #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Masks On

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, Hi-Fi, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I don't know if it was just me, but the last issue of Titans Hunt really grabbed me by the boo-boo and made me realize that I should really start getting hyped for this "Titans That Never Were" story.  Jim pish poshed my excitement by saying that it was just more of the same, but the cliffhanger showing us that a shriek went out that all the Titans of old heard......... which didn't include the Dawn Granger: Dove, upped the ante for me and I can't wait to see where the rest of this story goes.  So yeah, Mister Twister is out and about and is somehow making the characters that encompassed the Titans of old remember lives that they never led, while drawing them together. Like Grayson, Donna Troy and Garth getting over their little spat and Cave Boy breaking Roy Harper out of jail........ Man, I'm excited!  Let's jump into this issue and see if the excitement holds.  Let's check it out.

Wonder Woman #48 Review and *SPOILERS*

Doctor Poison!

Written By: Meredith Finch
Art By: David Finch, Scott Hanna, Brad Anderson, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to get to a whole new story underway and hopefully it plays out better than the last because man did it just fall flat in the end.  The biggest problem right now........ to me at least, is that Meredith Finch seems to be trying to continue Azzarello's run without having the same feel or tone and because of this it just comes off feeling odd.  I mean don't get me wrong, she's adding her own elements, but the two tones aren't really meshing that well and at this point I just would like something new.......... and hopefully that's what we get here.  Let's dive head first and all sorts of reckless into this issue and see what's what.

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Cool Things from "The Dawn of the Justice League" Special

Welcome back to another edition of Top 5 Fridays. On Tuesday, The CW hosted two specials in place of iZombie. The first one was just a rundown of the characters that would appear in Thursday's DC's Legends of Tomorrow premiere. The second was a rundown of the DC Cinematic Universe... and holy crap, does it make me impatient for this universe to come out. The special was only 30 minutes long, but it showed a few cool things that I wanted to go over today. Let's break it down...

Superman/Wonder Woman #25 Review

Mortal Wounds

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Jonathan Glapion, Scott Hannah, Wil Quintana and Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

I don't know why I always end up doing this, but I always seem to use this opening paragraph to defend my love of this book.  Well, maybe "love" is a bit too strong a word, but Wonder Woman, Superman and myself like each other a whole lot and keep flirting with the idea of taking it to the next level.  However, just when I'm about to make a commitment, something always comes up and this time it was the Truth storyline.  It's actually a shame because Clark losing his powers (kind of) could have been a great way to show fans that DC's most powerful power couple could get through any and all trouble and while Wonder Woman came out looking good, Superman has been a jerk.  A big, selfish jerk.  In fact, Superman dumped Wonder Woman a couple issues ago and it really has me worried about the future of this title.  I'm not here to talk about the future, I'm here to talk about this issue and that's what I'm going to do.  So here goes...

Secret Six #10 Review and *SPOILERS*

No Ending in Sight

Written By: Gail Simone

Art By: Dale Eaglesham and Tom Derenick, Jason Wright

Letters By: Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non-Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Here’s me, all reading Secret Six and having a blast of a time; there’s you, all wondering what turpentine tastes like and reading some knock-off of Secret Six like Justice League or the Amazing Spider-Man. Here’s me, thoroughly enjoying characters like Strix, Porcelain and Ferdie; there’s you, sticking a fork into a live electrical outlet and announcing to no one that you avoid Gail Simone’s books because of her “political agenda.” “I prefer action in my comic books,” you begin, while spooning gunpowder into your tea, “not a bunch of people being polite and discussing gender all the time.” (Here’s me, reading about Catman fighting Aquaman and then telling him he smells like tuna and chortling lightly at your foolishness.) “I like Gail Simone,” you claim, as you use a Q-Tip on the inside of your fucking ear, for goodness sakes, “but she’s too reserved for my tastes.” (Here’s me, reading a scene where Big Shot is yelling at the other team members for having weird sex on the couch and smiling inwardly at your closed-mindedness.) You don’t read Secret Six and that’s your problem, not mine. If you want to get a glimpse of the fun of this book, read on to my review. But know that it does not, in any way, simulate the experience of actually reading Secret Six!

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

You Can’t Trust a Big Bud and a Stamen

Written By: Amy Chu

Art By: Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Ulises Arreola

Letters By: Janice Chiang

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non-Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Hooray! It’s the book we’ve all been waiting for with bated breath, the comic that fans have been clamoring for lo these many years! It’s a comic book featuring our favorite, the best, most fascinating character ever shown in a four-color funnybook…Poison Ivy? Don’t get me wrong, I know every character has its fans, and I’ve certainly got nothing against the antisocial weirdo myself, but…Poison Ivy? When this book was announced way back in the warmer months of 2015, a lot of people reacted like finally, DC was getting its shit together and giving the fans what we want! And, uh, I don’t remember ever wanting this? But it’s cool! It’s cool, glad to have it, excited to see what Pamela Isley is doing with herself. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Why don’t you read on and see if I stick my foot in my mouth a few more times?

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #1 Second Take Review and *SPOILERS*

Beginning to Bloom

Written By: Amy Chu

Art By: Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Ulises Arreola

Letters By: Janice Chiang

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non-Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Poison Ivy has made her return from the DC bench to lead in her own mini-series. One thing that has been lacking in DC comics are female-led books, and this is a fine addition to a needed quo. Now that one of DC's greatest villains is leading her own title, is it any good? The book was actually really good; the characterization of Ivy was a stand out, but the real shining spot is the art.

Batman: Arkham Knight – Genesis #6 Review and *SPOILERS*

My Two Dads

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi

Art By: Dexter Soy, Dave McCaig

Letters By: Deron Bennett

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

We have come to the end of our six-issue sojourn through the dusty corners of Jason Todd’s mind, and it is bittersweet, my fellow Arkhamverse fans. We knew going into this that Jason Todd was Arkham Knight, we knew that the events of the video game had yet to play out, and still I was enjoying this flashback romp. All good things, etc., et cetera. If you read the first five issues of this miniseries, then I don’t see why you’d stop now. And if you haven’t read any of them, I can’t imagine why you’d start with the last one. So enough of the unnecessary soft sell! Read on!

Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #5 Review

Mirror Image

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Bruno Redondo, Juan Albarran, Wes Lokus and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: January 19, 2016

Besides never knowing what day this book will come out (is it Monday or Tuesday, DC?!?), I have really enjoyed the beginning to Year 5 of Injustice.  Throwing the villains into the mix not only makes me smile while reading the book, but also makes me wish some of these characters were in the game.  As they say, one out of two ain't bad so I won't complain.  I will tell you, however, that the best thing about the villains entering the fray is the differing philosophies that Superman and Batman have in their recruitment.   Superman is going for the biggest and meanest while Batman is sticking to non-killer types who live by a code.  Hey, I'm all about character, but I may have to side with Superman on this one.  I may be in the minority here because even Wonder Woman is against what Superman is doing.  Will Superman listen to Diana and stop his villain league fantasy draft or is Superman going with the might is right game plan?  Let's find out...

Batman and Robin Eternal #16 Review

...Fear Itself

Written by: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Art by: Andrea Mutti, Roger Robinson, Goran Sudzuka and Gabe Eltaeb
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

I am so up and down on Eternal that I really should take motion sickness pills.  Thankfully, I'm in the "up" phase right now, but if you have been reading the series along with me, you are well aware that can change at the drop of a hat.  What makes it even worse is when shit goes bad in this series, shit really goes bad.  Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly are back again this week and last week's issue made me change my opinion on them slightly.  I didn't hate the issue and in fact, really enjoyed the character work they did with Azrael.  So, I was curious if they could completely turn my frown upside down and make me a fan while continuing the positive Eternal trend this week.  Well, did they?  Let's find out...

Batman #48 Review and *SPOILERS*

Damn All of Them

Written By: Scott Snyder
Art By: Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Let's continue our foray into "Super Heavy" with this issue of Batman and see where all the wild stuff we saw last month will go....... You know what I'm talking about.  We not only had Jim Gordon believing that he apprehended Mr. Bloom, only to find out that the whole thing was a set up when the transport van was ripped open by what looked like a gang of blooms...... or should we call them a bouquet?  On top of that we had what I thought was the most interesting part of the book with Bruce Wayne seeming like he was beginning to remember who he was.  Yeah, that's a pretty interesting issue, but it was all topped off with a excellent cliffhanger, where we saw Bruce sitting on his thinking bench and approached by what looked like a dionysium healed Joker.  Hopefully this issue will continue the hype that we were left with in the last issue.  Let's jump in and check it out.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 Review

Ninja Skills Pay The Bills

Writer: James Tynion IV

Art and Cover: Freddie Williams II,Jeremy Colwell,Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 13th, 2016

*Spoilers ahead, summary and score at the bottom*

In the first issue of this series, we had a nice little set up of what was going on with our favorite Heroes in a Half Shell in a mysterious world. It ended with a cliffhanger of Batman confronting the turtles which really had a nice payoff. This issue continues on and while I enjoyed the first entry most for the shock and awe of having a book with Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in it (it's so awesome, isn't it?!?), this book hits hard in the action and excitement department.  

Wonder Woman #47 Review and *SPOILERS*

So Many Issues

Written By: Meredith Finch

Art By: Miguel Mendonca, Dexter Vines, Beth Sotela, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 30, 2015

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Remember when the Spice Girls were running around, yelling about Girl Power?  Well, not even Scary Spice could of foreseen the horror that would become what should be the all around most prominent source of "Girl Power" or in this case "Woman Power" and of course I'm talking about the current state of Wonder Woman.  This series has been a mess for awhile now and while I originally had high hopes for our last story arc, it crashed and burned quicker than Hal Jordan's daddy.  While I'd like to say that this issue will be the beginning of a new era of awesomeness for our God of War, this is only a one shot and I'll say right off the bat........... This is a mess.  Not even the fact that we get my favorite Wonder Woman villain: Cheetah in this issue was enough to combat the just all around badness.  Alright, let's quit complaining and get to it before we spend the next ten minutes wondering what the hell zigga zig ah actually meant.......... Yeah, now I'm on a Spice Girls kick.  Let's check this issue out.

The Weird Side #3

Story and Art by: Paul B.

Hello Weirdos and welcome to another issue of The Weird Side.  This week's issue continues the plight of Dan as he tries to get his segment started, a pivotal moment in the Glen's life and a bunch of podcast highlights including the most uncomfortable moment in my life...EVER!  I hope you enjoy it all and thanks goes to Paul for his awesome work once again!!!

Wonder Woman #48 Preview

Written By: Meredith Finch
Art By: David Finch, Scott Hanna, Brad Anderson
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

A mysterious illness that could affect all of Olympus strikes its first victim: Baby Zeke! Can Wonder Woman find the cure in time? It’s the start of a new quest that will redefine the God of War!

Maybe a little redefinition is what we need right now with Wonder Woman because I just haven't been digging everything that we've been getting lately.  I love Wonder Woman and because of this, I really want to see the character shine more than she has....... I just hope that a god disease is just what the doctor ordered to get the job done.

Sinestro #19 Preview

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Brad Walker, Neil Edwards, Drew Hennessy, Jonathan Glapion, Blond, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

The Pale Bishop has declared a holy war on all emotion—and his minions are about to invade Earth! Only the power of fear stands against them. In an attempt to bolster his defensive line, Sinestro has dispatched yellow rings across our world, adding many heroes and villains to the ranks of the Sinestro Corps!

I love this title........... hell, I think that it's the best Lantern title out and about right now, but having this many rings go out and grab so many heroes and villains just kind of feels........ I don't know if desperate is the right word, but I thought it was cool enough when Black Adam became a Fear Lantern and the impact of that is kind of weak sauce now that everyone and their mama in the DCYou is rocking yellow jewelry.  Maybe that's just me though.  I'm totally still looking forward to this issue, I just hope that it doesn't come off too gimmicky.

Robin: Son of Batman #8 Preview

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Ramon Bachs, Mat Lopes, Corey Breen
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

Damian Wayne is back in Gotham City! Recovering from the events of the Robin War, Robin finds himself with the unlikeliest of partners: his mother, Talia! Damian gets back to his roots as an al Ghul…but will it take him farther from his quest for redemption?


Quest Schmest........ As of right now the best thing to come out of the Robin War is getting Damian back in Gotham and now that he's there, I hope........... oh god, do I hope that our little pumpkin headed boy simply puts his Year of Blood behind him and just stays in that terrible city that we all love.  I don't need Damian running through ruins of ancient cities or fighting supernatural demigods or some such nonsense...... no, all I need is him swinging through Gotham and getting into trouble with the local riffraff, while his father is away being all Regarding Henry.  I doubt that I'll get what I want, but I'll take him being back in Gotham this issue and chalk it up as a win.

Justice League of America #7 Preview

Written By: Bryan Hitch
Art By: Bryan Hitch, Daniel Henriques
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 27, 2016

The devastating climax of last issue has the League scrambling for revenge! Only problem is, they’ll need to get through millions of super-powered Kryptonians to get it!


This is a strange solicit......... you know with all the revenge going on in reference to our heroes and what not.  Also, if this is about Wonder Woman and Aquaman supposedly blowing up.......... well, I don't know how the Justice League would even know about it.  Anyway, this book has been pushed back again and with that happening so often, I've kind of lost interest a bit.  Hopefully, it will all come together well in trade and tell one hell of a story, but as of right now I have trouble remembering what happens issue to issue because of how long the wait is in between.

Doctor Fate #8 Preview

Written By: Paul Levitz
Art By: Ibrahim Moustafa, Lee Loughridge
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

Can young Khalid heal the world from the flood tides of Anubis while he wrestles with questions of faith and heritage? He’ll have to, for Fate has given the new hero no choice!


I swear, if Khalid goes around in this issue not believing what happened to him or wondering about Med School........ well, I'm going to lose my shit.  Come on book, just give me Doctor Fate already....... not the boy who would be Fate.

Batman #48 Preview

Written By: Scott Snyder
Art By: Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 20, 2016

Mr. Bloom’s seeds have grown into an army that may turn all of Gotham City against its new Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne meets a mysterious stranger who could start a chain of events no one can stop.


While some readers have grown tired of Jim Gordon's stint as the Dark Knight, no one can tell me that they didn't get excited by last issue's cliffhanger.  The Bruce story in all of this is where it's at and I can't wait to see more of it.

DC Comics Estimated Sales For December 2015

So yeah, I got a little behind in 2015 and didn't even do a Checking The Numbers for November, but never you threat little camper, those numbers will be included with this....... if that book actually came out in November.  Anyway, like everyone of these I do, the previous issue's numbers are included.  So like I say every time one of these go up, we will not be including digital first printed collections, Vertigo titles........ pretty much just whatever Weird Science considers the "main" DC Comics books will be on this........ and that's a lot of books so you should be able to find what you want here.  It's 2016 and my resolution this year is to up my game a bit so with any luck I'll be able to get off my duff and put one of these up every month and prove that my will is as strong as a Green Lantern.......... resolutions are all about will power after all.  Let's jump into this installment of Checking The Numbers and see how our favorite books are fairing.  Let's check it out.

The Legend of Wonder Woman #8 Review

End of Her Rope

Written by: Renae De Liz
Art by: Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date:

It's no secret that I love the Legend of Wonder Woman so I'm not going to give you a phony "I wonder if I'm going to like this" introduction paragraph and waste any of our time.  We are eight chapters into this series and De Liz and Dillon have earned my trust to the point that that they have to mess up real bad for me to lose faith in them.  Spoiler alert...it still hasn't happened after reading this chapter.  While it may seem like I'm on the payroll, I'm just a guy who loves comics and Wonder Woman and really thinks this book deserves way more attention than DC Comics is willing to give it.  However, a couple of things I've learned in my many years on this planet are the people who yell the most usually have the least to say and the cream always rises to the top.  While the first one hasn't stopped Eric and myself from recording a four hour weekly podcast, the second one gives me hope that this book will be the runaway hit it deserves to be.  I guess I should get on with the matter at hand and start my review for chapter eight before everyone writes me off as a raving mad fanboy. What, that's already happened?!?  Oh well, at least I still have my street cred...

Catwoman #48 Review

Dusting the Diamond

Written by: Frank Tieri
Art by: Inaki Miranda, Eva De La Cruz and Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 13, 2016

I really enjoyed Frank Tieri's debut on Catwoman last month.  While I loved the prior run, it was nice to see Catwoman fully back in the black leather and doing "Catwomany" things.  Of course, that immediately lead to trouble as the issue ended with Selina being framed for murder and a whole bunch of NYPD pointing their guns at her.  To say my interest was peaked is an understatement and I couldn't wait for this issue to see how Selina would get out of her current situation.  So, was the wait worth it and how the heck did she escape...or did she?  Let's find out...

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Ep 54: Up Periscope

Jim and Eric get together to talk DC Comics, DC Comics News and random nonsense.  They try to figure out what periscope is, discuss various masturbation methods and eventually wade through all of comic books released this week and are joined by Professor DC, Reggie and Ryan. Enjoy!