FIRST LOOK: Blue Beetle Rebirth #1

Written by: Keith Giffen
Art by: Scott Kolins
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 24, 2016

Lost in the desert with no memory of the past few years, teenager Jaime Reyes must find his way home again—but when he reaches his town, he’s shocked to find it abandoned and in the hands of government officials…officials who are very interested in the Blue Beetle and the scarab that gives him his power! How can Jaime find his family and uncover the secret behind the town’s seizure—and why Kord Industries is helping keep the world from learning the truth?

What's with all of these people in the DCU forgetting everything?  Is it something in the water?  Do they need some EPA and DHA supplements?  While this Rebirth solicit sounds a bit strange, everyone here at the Weird Science Clubhouse is waiting in anticipation for the teaming up of Jaime and Ted!  And remember...the scarab is MAGIC!!!

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Suicide Squad Stories

“Messin’ With Me, It’s a Stone Cold Suicide” – Busy Bee, 1-800-SUICIDE

Did you know that there’s a Suicide Squad movie debuting in theaters today? I had no idea! You’d think the movie studio would have done a little marketing and publicity for the thing, never mind hiring known actors! I mean, “Will Smith?” Sounds like a fake name if I’ve ever heard one! Luckily, you don’t need to bother with some dumb old movie in a smelly theater, when you can read smelly old comics with your dumb brain! So here are five great Suicide Squad stories you can read right now, despite the fact that the prices for these issues have probably skyrocketed thanks to the film coming out.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 & Harley Quinn #1

Jim, Eric and Reggie get together to talk about two new Rebirth books coming out this week...Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 and Harley Quinn #1. Find out what they thought and if you like what you hear, tune in to the full weekly podcast that releases every single Sunday Night.

Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #4 Review and **SPOILERS**

Daddy, Buy Me a Murder Island?

Written By: Frank Tieri & Jimmy Palmiotti 

Art By: Mauricet, Hi-Fi

Letters By: Josh Reed

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2016

**NON-SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Enjoy this video for “La Isla Bonita” by Madonna!

Now, enjoy my review for Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #4!

Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Chapter #33 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Tom Derenick, Rex Lokus, Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 2, 2016

It looks like Superman is in desperate need for a PR agent.  I guess it is all his fault...you know, being a total dick who murders anyone who looks at him sideways.  Still, if he wants to keep being the BMOC then he better get some feel good stories out there about himself and the Regime for Joe Lunchpail to latch on to.  Of course, it doesn't look like any of that will be happening and as we head towards the end, Superman is just falling deeper into the shit hole he dug for himself.  I don't mind because I hate him so much, but does it make for a good issue?  Let's find out...

Batman Beyond #15 Review and *SPOILERS*

Use Your Illusion

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to head on back to that strange, strange future we all thought we knew from watching the Batman Beyond cartoon or from reading the comics, but this "shway" world isn't what we thought we knew because Futures End had to go and fuck everything up and trade our lovable Terry McGinnis in for the emotionally broken Tim Drake....... also from the future, but not one that exists anymore, so it doesn't really matter.  Anyway, now that you're all caught up on the gist of this book, let's get to the nitty gritty.  It seems that while we saw Terry McGinnis die in Futures End, all that shit doesn't count anymore thanks to the mind fuck that is time travel and our former Batman Beyond is now Rewire...... thanks to the mind control powers of Spellbinder.  Yeah, shit is crazy, but all of this is leading to getting Terry McGinnis out of the Rewire suit and back into something that fits a little more snug.  Let's jump into this issue and see how Tim Drake snaps Terry out of fairy land, where he believes that Batman has been persecuting him for years and years, to the point where Terry..... or Davis as he goes by here, thinks that killing the Batman is the only way to find some peace.  Let's check it out.

Suicide Squad's Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Deal or No Deal

Written by: Jai Nitz, Micheal Moreci

Art by: Cliff Richards, Oscar Bazaldua

Release Date: August 10, 2016

**NONSPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I guess it's time to call back in the squad mates… And just in time for the movie! It felt like just yesterday when I finished reviewing Suicide Squad's Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana. While Deadshot's story was pretty friggin awesome, Katana's story very lackluster and drag the entire miniseries down. With that in mind, I'm afraid that the same would happen. I want to believe it can be good in both stories, but it makes me worried nonetheless. This time, the stories are going to revolve around our Australian Rogue, captain boomerang, and a character that I've wanted to learn more about when I first read him, El Diablo. So how is this going to turn out? Will these stories hit you in the 

Aquaman #4 Review and **SPOILERS**

Now They Got Me in a Cell

Written By: Dan Abnett

Art By: Philippe Briones, Gabe Eltaeb

Lettered By: Pat Brosseau

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2015

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I wonder if Arthur Curry ever did any antiquing as a kid. One thing New England is great for is antiquing. Actually, the main thing New England is good for is folksy wisdom and meandering driving directions based on seasonal landmarks. But after that, it’s antiquing. There are entire farmlands devoted to wholesale antiques. You’ll find anything that ever existed at these farms. It might be a little broken and full of ants, but you’ll find it. Like, those Dark Crystal glasses you could get from McDonald’s in the 1980s, that you assumed no longer existed anywhere on earth? They’re in New England every weekend, in mint condition except for a sheen of dust and maybe a little residue from being displayed on a rusty Rheingold Beer tray. You can get them for five bucks apiece, probably make a deal for fifteen on the whole set. Anyway, none of that has anything to do with my review of Aquaman #4, which you can read below!

Justice League #2 Review

Things Happen and Stuff

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey and Richard Starkings
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3 ,2016

I have not been a fan of this book so far.  It's a shame too since I consider Justice League to be the biggest book in DC's lineup and was so excited to finally get to review it.  Eric got Geoff Johns and I get Bryan Hitch.  Hey, I'd love to say this is a no judgement zone, but by its very nature, it isn't even close.  So, as I go into this issue of Justice League, all I can say is, "Prove me wrong, Hitch...Prove me wrong!"

Green Lanterns #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Rage Rising

Written By: Sam Humphries
Art By: Ed Benes, Robson Rocha, Tom Derenick, Rob Hunter, Mark Irwin, Vincente Cifuentes, Jay Leisten, Tom Palmer, Marc Deering, Blond, Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

When the hell did Simon go and become the most important Lantern who ever existed?  I mean, he can pull people out of comas with his will, he's rocking this new Emerald Sight that we really know nothing about and as of last issue he can cure....... or at least temporarily cure Red Lanterns.  It's crazy, especially when Jessica is still facing so many challenges in her own Lantern prowess.  This team is definitely heavy on the Simon at this point and that may be what led Jessica to be infected by the rage in the previous issue and with that new freeing emotion in her heart, she may just take some of her frustrations out on her partner.  Let's jump into this issue and see if our Green Lantern heroes can overcome the rage within them and take down the Red Lanterns before Red Dawn ever comes to be.  Let's check it out.

Bloodlines #5 Review and **SPOILERS**

Annual Pine Ridge Zombie Walk

Written By: J.T. Krul

Art By: V. Ken Marion, Sean Parsons, Andrew Dalhouse & Sotocolor

Lettered By: Sal Cipriano

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT BOTTOM**

You know, the 80s nostalgia revival seemed to last a couple of years, but this 1990s revival has been going on forever. It’s like people can’t get enough of Zubaz pants and wraparound mirrored sunglasses and feel good, peppy music about nothing in particular. I wonder if that was the pinnacle of American civilization, since it’s clearly all been downhill since. I guess it would be in poor taste to review the turn of the century, like, “Remember when 9/11 happened and everyone got really paranoid and xenophobic for a while? Let’s have a party where we cover the walls in missing persons flyers!” But still, there was some good stuff in there. Jay-Z released the Black Album and retired from hip-hop for about a year. The Westboro Baptist Church gave people of all skin colors something they could come together to denounce and ridicule. And it was pretty much the last decade before the Western Hemisphere became suffused with social media and real-time smart phone culture, which is definitely the worst thing to happen to the human race since cholera. When you read Bloodlines, despite it taking place in the present day, it has a very retro feel: it’s like an 80s horror movie in 90s comics dress and a dash of more recent times for technology’s sake. I like visiting the town of Pine Ridge, won’t you join me in my recap of this, the penultimate issue of the Bloodlines miniseries?

Green Arrow #4 Review

Sick Burn

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Juan Ferreyra and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

Green Arrow has been one of my biggest surprises of Rebirth and it goes beyond the actual writing and art.  You see, I am not a huge Green Arrow fan.  On the best of days, I can usually take Ollie or leave him and not have a second thought with either.  It's because of that, though, that makes me take a girls just want to have fun approach to it all.  Give some fun and adventure and I'm in and that's what Ben Percy is giving me.  Yea, we also are getting to see Ollie lose his life, money, friends and family, but in a action packed way that has me on the edge of my seat.  Does this issue continue it all and have me dancing around like Cyndi Lauper?  Let's find out...

Nightwing #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Birds Of A Feather

Written By: Tim Seeley
Art By: Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Holy shit, Nightwing is out again already?  I guess there's just too much story to wait another week before we get the next installment of our high flying acrobat....... That or it's a new month and DC is trying to get this on some sort of normal schedule that doesn't throw a shit ton of Bat books out on the same day........ Either way, I hope that this story kind of goes against the grain of the previous issue and the Rebirth issue because man, that just screamed Grayson and I'm not here to read Grayson because that time is over, it's time to get into Nightwing taking on the Parliament of the Owls........ which may prove difficult as we saw in the previous issue because the Owls have saddled Dick with a new partner to keep him from......... doing good guy things?  Maybe just to make sure that he doesn't decide to go all rogue on their asses, Either way, it's going to prove pretty damn difficult to have a secret agenda now that Raptor is hanging around........ and hell, maybe the partnership won't last at all because when we left the previous issue, we saw Raptor just beat the holy hell out of Dick, while he went on and on about how his gauntlet reads him, as he reads people.  I don't know what that means, but I hope to find out here.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Dick's mission to take down the Owls has ended prematurely or if Raptor and him have already become besties.  Let's check it out.

Batman #4 Review

City Guys

Written by: Tom King
Art by: David Finch, Sandra Hope, Matt Banning, Jordie Bellaire and John Workman
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

I have been enjoying Batman more and more with each passing issue and it's not because of Batman.  Nope, I have fallen in love with Gotham and Gotham Girl and can't wait for a nice long run with these two crazy kids as Batman's side...what's that?  Last issue's cliffhanger.  Well yea, it didn't look great for our heroes, but I'm sure that their run-in with Psycho Pirate will work itself out, right?  I mean, what could possibly go wrong?  Well, I guess that's why we are here.  That and to decide if the issue is good by assigning a number to it at the end and then moving on to the next one.  Boy, I am getting sad now.  On to the review...

Harley Quinn #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

All Aboard the Harley Train

Written By: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti

Art By: Chad Hardin, Alex Sinclair

Lettered By: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

For those that missed the first number one issue that came out around four years ago, here’s your second chance to own a Harley Quinn #1! This time, it’s attached to the Rebirth event, but she doesn’t get her own Rebirth issue…and indeed, there’s no change to the book’s creative team, or setting, or cast of characters. I think that’s because, when DC was coming up with Rebirth on a Friday afternoon in late April or early May of this year, they looked at what needed to be changed in Harley Quinn and determined that it should be nothing. Harley Quinn has been a huge success for DC Comics, and I’m not sure anyone at the company and possibly on the creative team can adequately explain why. If you’re interested to find out, right here is the best place to hop on. But if you’re even more tentative with your three-dollar investments, then give a look at my recap and review!

Superman #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Ghost Face Killa

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason
Art By: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Clark can't seem to catch a break since he decided to take up the mantle of the New 52 Superman because there he was for years and years with his family, keeping it low key and now he's face to face with the Eradicator in this story, who wants to suck off his son.......... or something like that.  Yeah, it seems that the Eradicator is all about things being pure and since Clark and Lois went and mingled their genomes to make Jon, Eradicator wants to purge the human part of the boy.... and ended up eating Krypto in the process.  If there's one thing you don't do in this series since Jon's traumatic experience with his cat Goldie, is hurt another animal, so it's time for a little father/son ass kicking bonding time.  Let's jump into this issue and see how the super family fares in the face of the embodiment of Krypton itself.  Let's check it out.

PREVIEW: Batman #4

Written by: Tom King
Art by: David Finch, Sandra Hope, Matt Banning, Jordie Bellaire and John Workman
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

“I Am Gotham” part four. When Gotham City falls prey to true evil, will Batman be abandoned by the new heroes Gotham and Gotham Girl? The Dark Knight must decide who to entrust with the safety of his beloved city if he hopes for any of its citizens to survive. 

I have fallen head over heels for both Gotham and Gotham Girl and that means big trouble for both of them.  It's my lot in life to only fall for characters right before they die or go bad.  I may get a double does this time.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Ep 82: DC Rebirth Week 8, Hunks and LP’s

Week 8 of DC's Rebirth is upon us and Jim, Eric and Reggie are here to tell you all about it.  Overall, it was a good week with Batgirl and Red Hood kicking off their new series and some of the others going strong.  Of course, the guys have a couple issues along the way and it all turns into a nearly 8 hour gabfest.  Enjoy!

PREVIEW: Green Arrow #4

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Juan Ferreyra and Nate Piekos

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

“The Death and Life of Oliver Queen” part four! Black Canary steps through the deadly gates of Inferno, the global super-villain answer to Fort Knox, to discover the truth behind the destruction of Oliver Queen’s life, fortune and reputation. Meanwhile, Seattle’s manhunt for the outlaw Green Arrow takes an exhilarating twist when an old frenemy makes an unexpected return. 


Boy, I wish I had a frenemy.  It's the friend part that I'm having a problem with.  I've got the enemy thing down pat...in fact, I have them in spades.  Can I pretend to have a friend?  Does that work?  I guess I'll just have to stick with having an enemy, but that sucks because it doesn't have that funny spelling that makes me giggle.

PREVIEW: Nightwing #2

Written By: Tim Seeley
Art By: Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

“Better than Batman” part two! Nightwing and his new mentor Raptor embark on their first assignment for the Parliament of Owls. Will Raptor prove himself a superior mentor for Nightwing? Or will they both fall prey to the fangs of Kobra?

I really hope that this issue ups the stakes because Nightwing swinging around and whispering to people that "The Owls Are Watching" doesn't seem like a big leap from superhero to villain in my book...... just really, a weirdo messenger.  Also, I hope to find out what the hell is up with Raptor's gauntlet because I was completely lost on that front.

PREVIEW: Superman #4

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason
Art By: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3, 2016

“SON OF SUPERMAN” part four! The battle for Jon hits Metropolis as the Eradicator targets Superman’s son! Can the Man of Steel protect the city and his son against the Kryptonian executioner—or will he have to make a sacrifice? 

Poor little Krypto...... You notice that this Superman can't catch a break?  He was in this Universe for years keeping a low profile and as soon as he "S"s the hell up, BLAM!  A sucker from Superman's home planet comes a callin'.  Hopefully he can save his son and the Super Dog..... and then explain why the Super Dog looks like his classic version instead of the giant white wolf we saw throughout the New 52.

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn #1

Written By: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti

Art By: Chad Hardin, Alex Sinclair

Lettered By: Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2016

“Die Laughing” part one! Welcome back to Harley Quinn’s crazy world on Coney Island…now get ready to wave goodbye, because everyone there just might get eaten alive! Harley’s gotta protect her neighborhood against an all-out zombie apocalypse! Break out the chainsaws, everybody! 

Harley Quinn is being renumbered but not Rebirthed, so this is probably a great place for the curious to hop on and see what all the hubbub is about, while hopefully not alienating the existing fans. It's also probably a good place to read some sexual innuendo and fart jokes. I dunno what's going to happen with this zombie business, and it looks like the story is called "Afterbirth" and not "Die Laughing Part One," but I'd say if you've been enjoying Harley Quinn up to this point, then there's no reason to stop getting it!

PREVIEW: Suicide Squad Rebirth #1

Written By: Rob Williams

Art By: Philip Tan, Jonathan Glapion, Scott Hanna, Sandy Florea, Alex Sinclair

Lettered By: Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2016

Soldier. War hero. Traitor. Captain Rick Flag was one of America’s greatest military commanders before he was banished to a secret military prison. But after years of isolation, Flag’s life changes forever when a woman called Amanda Waller offers him redemption in exchange for taking on the single most dangerous job in the entire DC Universe: keeping the Suicide Squad alive!

It looks like they're putting Rick Flag at the head of the Suicide Squad, probably to be more in line with the movie but man...this Squad could use some kind of leader. Up until now, Harley Quinn's been one of the tactical masterminds of the crew, and that's not a good look. I assume that, as a Rebirth issue, it will mainly be establishing the status quo, but for a team with as many regular personnel changes as the Suicide Squad, it's probably necessary!

PREVIEW: Justice League #2

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey and Richard Starkings
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 3 ,2016

“The Extinction Machine” part two! Massive earthquakes shake cities to the ground as the ancient intelligence known as the Awakened takes control of the people of Earth, forcing them to turn against anyone with superpowers—including the Justice League! Unable to fight a war on two fronts, Batman asks for help from the one man he trusts less than anyone. 

The Kindred are now the Awakened...or are they just awake...or are they totally different? Are these aliens tied in with the Reapers? I hope we get a couple of answers to let us know where we stand going forward. 

International Iron Man #5 Review - Marvel Mondays

Hello Mother. I’m Tony

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis

Art by: Alex Maleev, Paul Mounts, VC's Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 27, 2016

Okay I’ll be honest. I love Iron Man. I love his attitude, his backstory, and obviously his suit. So when I opened this book and saw that Howard and Maria aren’t actually Tony’s parents, I got a little pissed. I’m just jumping onto the series with this issue, so maybe if I read the rest of the series it would make more sense, but I got angry after only reading the credits page. Did the meat and cheese of the book do anything to ease that anger? Let’s find out.

Uncanny Avengers #11 Review - Marvel Mondays

Action Com… I mean Uncanny Avengers

Written by: Gerry Duggan

Art by: Pepe Larraz, David Curiel and VC's Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 27, 2016

Review by: Vermillionaire

I’ll admit, the Uncanny Avengers make up a pretty weird team. I haven’t read any of this series, so I had no idea if this would be a good jumping-on point or not. But honestly, I didn’t care. As long as a team this odd proves to be a fun time, I’m all for it. I mean, how can Cable AND Captain America teaming up with Deadpool not be a good time? So let’s jump right in and see what’s going on.

Black Widow #5 Review - Marvel Mondays

I’m VERY Good

Written by: Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

Art by: Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson and VC's Joe Carmagna

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 20, 2016

Review by: Vermillionaire

Is it bad that I wish it was just pictures of Scarlett Johansson when I opened up this book? Nothing against our artist Chris Samnee, but come on, it’s ScarJo. Okay, I know that’s just wishful thinking. In all honesty, all I know of Black Widow’s history is what has been shown in the MCU. The credits page does a pretty good job of catching up anyone jumping on with this issue though, so if I can get an awesome spy story out of this book, then I’m happy.