Arrow Season 5 Episode 3 "A Matter of Trust" Review

‘Da Squad

Directed by: Gregory Smith
Written by: Greg Berlanti

Starring: Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland. etc

Originally Aired: October 19, 2016

Review by: Branden Murray


Arrow has attempted to reinvigorate itself this season by introducing several new heroes and villains in an effort to keep things fresh. The show runners, by reaching into the long forgotten DC character catalog and giving Green Arrow his brutal approach back, have season five off and running in the right direction so far. So without further ado lets jump into episode 503 and see who and whats new in the Arrow-verse this week before I start reading all these comics and forget what happened altogether. 

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Old Timer Heroes in Comics

Welcome back to another exciting installment of Top 5 Fridays! This week we got another chapter of The Dark Knight: The Master Race and the first emotion filled trailer to Logan, the final Wolverine movie. It's stuff like this that make me think of how characters seem more badass with age. It always seems like the grayer the hero, the cooler he becomes. Think about it. When Steve Rogers was over 90, he didn't hesitate to put on a Captain America esque armor to defend the innocent White Skull from a group of evil Avengers or how Batman, age 60, took on the mutant leader while proclaiming he's a surgeon. Old men in fiction rock! That's why today we'll be covering my top 5 favorite old characters in DC, which means no real old-timers like Jim Werner and Eric Shea won't be included(I'm kidding, please don't kick me, guys). As always this is an opinion based list, meaning if you don't see one you like, I apologize. Enough talk! Let's dive into this list before we are chased off the picks' lawns!

Just for the Hell of It Podcast Ep 6: Halloween, Trick or Treating and Mischief Night

Eric, Jim and Reggie put the comics down for a night to talk all about Halloween and so much more.  Listen and find out how Jim and Reggie both eat Kit-Kats, what Eric's Top 5 Halloween Movies are and how Jim's Dad used to greet Trick or Treaters. The guys keep it loose and just take a trip down All-Hallow's Eve Memory Lane.  Enjoy!

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 10/19/16

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Panels

Hello again, comics enthusiasts! Yet another slam-bang week of DC comic book covers, and I had to whittle 'em down to five! When I agreed to do this thing every week, I didn't realize it would be so difficult. So this week I am cheating, and presenting six covers instead of five, but the sixth is really an Honorable Mention because it features Cutie Aquaman. Feast your peepers on this hottie before proceeding to the "meat and cheese," as it were, of this week's comic book covers!

HONORABLE MENTION:

Justice League #7 variant

Yanick Panquette & Nathan Fairbairn

HOT!

Suicide Squad's Most Wanted: El Diablo and Killer Croc #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Welcome to the Jungle(of Secrets!)

Written by: Jai Nitz, Christopher Sebela

Art by: Cliff Richards, Brian Level

Release Date: October 19, 2016

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

 While the story of Captain Boomerang in South America ended the last issue with a bang, we now have Killer Croc's story to take it's place, while we continue the adventures of the Agent of Checkmate, El Diablo. What adventures will tall and scaly get into? What's going to happen to our favorite ex-Squad Mate? 

Another month, another time to bring in the Suicide Squad's most wanted. I enjoyed the first two issues, much more than I did than the previous series, and now we have two of my favorite Squad members as the focus, I expect to enjoy it a whole lot more. However, it also makes me a little bit nervous as well, as Katana's story started well, but quickly fell apart... Plus Killer Croc, despite being a character with a lot of hidden potential for stories, might not be what you consider 'leading man' material. Let's dive on in and see if we get some good.

The Flash Season 3 Episode 3 “Magenta" Review and **SPOILERS**

Written By: Judalina Neira and David Kob 

Directed By: Armen V. Kevorkian (gotta be a made up name, its too awesome to be real)
First Aired: October 18, 2016

Last week was super duty tough work. The episode was bad ass as fuck. Barry got all cool and shit again. The gang was back on the same page. Cisco was kind of sad still but I think he is coming around to the understanding that the rest of us had which is this, Dante was wack as fuck and the world is better without him. Draco Malfoy now shares Barry's lab and there is an awesome new villain named Alchemy. 

Caught up? Good. Let's get into tonight's proceedings. 

Green Arrow #9 Review

Going Green

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Stephen Byrne and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

I have been jumping on and off the Green Arrow bandwagon since the start of Rebirth.  While Ben Percy is giving readers a story that is leaps and bounds better than what we got in the New 52, it just hasn't grabbed me like some of the other books.  It's not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it's just not hitting all the right notes right now.  That being said, I did have high hopes for this Island of Scars story, but the first issue dished out way more questions than answers.  So, do we get answers in this issue and do they turn this into a must read?  Let's find out...

Trinity #2 Review

Memory Lane

Written by: Francis Manapul
Art by: Francis Manapul and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

After the first issue of this book, I decide that Trinity would be my Justice League book.  It had an intriguing story and looked great...and it was all because of Francis Manapul.  If you didn't read it, it may have had one of the coolest dinner parties ever, but the big part that most people seemed to have missed was Jon buying seeds form a stranger.  The way it ended, it appeared that these seeds had given way to some sort of Mercy plant...Black or otherwise.  So, did the awesomeness continue here and do we find out exactly what type of Mercy we are dealing with?  Let's find out...

Superman #9 Review and *SPOILERS*

This Issue's Gonna Cost You An Arm and A Leg..... Well, Maybe Just A Leg

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason
Art By: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Trevor Scott, Wil Quintana, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to get back to Dinosaur Island, where we saw our Super Father and Son team transported to in the previous issue after Jon went and built a crazy ass teleportation device in the Fortress of Solitude.  If that sounds crazy...... well, it's even crazier when you realize that he made this thing for his school science project.  Kid totally needs more parental supervision going on, especially with how overprotective Superman seems to want everyone to think he is......... You can't just say it Superman, you gotta show it.  It's on this Land of the Lost trip that our duo found the resting place of the World War II team, The Losers and their final message to the world that was torn right out of the The New Frontier story as a way to honor Darwyn Cooke since his passing.  Let's jump into this issue and see where this Dinosaur Island jaunt takes us in this Superman series and find out what's up with Jon's crazy science project inspired by a dream.  Let's check it out.

Green Lanterns #9 Review and *SPOILERS*

I Want To Be A Green Lantern Too

Written By: Sam Humphries
Art By: Robson Rocha, Jay Leisten, Blond, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Why is Earth so important?  I mean, I get it, I think I'm pretty cool and I happen to live on Earth, but in the grand scheme of things it's crazy that this little blue planet just happens to be the focal point of everything disastrous that could possibly happen in the Universe and for this foray into disaster, we're looking at the Phantom Ring.  This new little doohickey is able to be worn by anyone who happens to pick it up and slip it on their finger and because this ring doesn't have the right to choose, it's most likely that whoever gets a hold of it will probably use it in less than honorable ways.  Let's jump into this issue and see all about who that strange man at the end of last issue is, who seems to be looking for the Phantom Ring so that he can claim it for his own and find out who spilled the beans to this yahoo about the Phantom Ring in the first place.  Let's check it out.

Aquaman #9 Review and **SPOILERS**

Arthur Really Hates Having to Ask For Directions, Too

Writer: Dan Abnett 

Penciller: Scot Eaton 

Inker: Wayne Faucher 

Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb 

Letterer: Pat Brosseau 

Cover: Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy & Gabe Eltaeb 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: October 19, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I think GPS improved my parents’ marriage. Way back in the Long Ago, when people had to write directions on paper and follow unfoldable maps that were free (useless) or purchasable (useful) from roadside gas station, my parents got lost while driving roughly 98% of the time. Firstly, you have to understand that directions given by a human being are invariably terrible, because humans don’t always remember silly things like exit numbers or street names or whether a given location still actually exists. “You take the interstate to the exit for Iskabibble’s Place, then hang a left at the Dunkin’ Donuts and bear right near the big tree.” Another reason most car trips led to my parents’ near divorce is because my father never trusted the crummy directions as given. He’d be reading along, executing every move as described, and then he’d mutter, “this can’t be right.” An hour later we’re five states off course and the engine is knocking like a bill collector. Then, many years back, we were on the way to my cousin’s wedding and getting lost as usual, when I pulled up GPS on my phone and told them, “follow this.” And now they only fight about important, relationship-ending things! One relationship that will never falter, despite Jim’s wishes, is Aquaman and Mera. Say, I wonder what they’re up to now? Let’s find out!

Nightwing #7 Review and *SPOILERS*

Raptor Problems

Written By: Tim Seeley
Art By: Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Okay boys and girls, we've got all that Monster Men nonsense behind us and it's finally time to get back to Raptor and his secret origins that somehow seem to tie to Dick Grayson's own.  It's kind of funny because the last time we saw Raptor he was alluding to the fact that he knew Dick's parents and all I kept thinking about was the New 52 Nightwing series because it seemed that every story had something to do with Haley's Circus and it became a bit annoying and with Rebirth coming out I thought we were well beyond all that............ Shows what I know.  Let's jump into this issue and see what the ramifications of Raptor selling the names of the Parliament of the Owls to Kobra are and what will happen once Nightwing finds out.  Let's check it out.

Harley Quinn #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

The Hardest Part

Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner 

Artist: John Timms 

Flashback Artist & Colors: Jill Thompson 

Colors: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: October 19, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

By the time I was old enough to go to the record store myself and purchase my own music, the punk rock scene had long been over. That didn’t keep me from purchasing albums by the Ramones, the Misfits, Black Flag, the Sex Pistols, and any other band names I saw on t-shirts for sale in the back of Thrasher magazine. To me, it all belonged under the genre “punk,” though I could make obvious distinctions between United Kingdom and American variants, and even differences between West Coast and East Coast punk rock. At that same time, the only living variant of punk was called hardcore, and I went to a lot of hardcore shows—specifically New York hardcore, which differed from Boston or Huntington Beach hardcore. Now, I hear that “punk” can be applied only to the UK bands like the Damned and G.B.H., while Dead Kennedys and Minor Threat belong in the category “hardcore.” Meanwhile, the music I saw live as a teenager is now called “speed metal.” Point of all this is that labels are bullshit, and no matter what you like there’s always going to be some jerk to explain why you’re wrong about it. That’s why I like Harley Quinn. It defies all conventional formulas and preconceptions about what it should be, and stands out by virtue of doing of its own thing. Let’s check out the latest issue, okay?

Justice League #7 Review

End It Already!

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Jesus Merino, Andy Owens, Adriano Lucas and Richard Starkings
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

The last issue of Justice League was my favorite of the Rebirth series yet.  I'm not saying it was great, but the more personal story that Bryan Hitch started was way better than the nonstop universal threats of the Kindred, Reapers and the Purge.  Plus, there weren't any singing crystals and that is a huge plus in my book!  While I can't really tell you what was making the Justice League act funny (Hitch likes his villains vague), seeing them go nuts with fear and anger was pretty cool.  So, does this issue wrap up this two-parter in style?  Let's jump in and find out...

Cyborg #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

A Nightmare At STAR Labs

Written By: John Semper Jr.
Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

Man, was last issue a hard read to get through because of how much Kilg%re went on and on about how much he hated humanity, while quoting every damn thing they ever wrote.  It wasn't an enjoyable issue, but I will say that by the end I did get on the Cyborg trolley because we had ourselves a hell of a cliffhanger with Victor's father safe from the villain, only for us to find out that the man who was saved is actually an impostor taking on the guise of Dr. Silas Stone.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Cyborg can get past this whole humanity vs. machine dilemma he's facing and if we can gleam anymore information about what this mastermind behind the rogue cyborgs attacking our hero is actually up to.  Let's check it out.

Raven #2 Review and **SPOILERS**

They Wouldn’t Let Poor Raven Play in Any Mind Warp Games

Writer: Marv Wolfman 

Artist: Alisson Borges 

Colorist: Blond 

Letterers: A Larger World 

Cover By: Mike McKone & Rod Reis 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: October 19, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Growing up is hard to do, as the song’s ineloquent lyrics claim, but really it’s easy because it’s inevitable. You rail against adulthood your whole life and claim you’d never “sell out,” but one day you wake up and suddenly a sportsjacket with leather patches on the elbows seems like a sensible thing to wear. The difficult part of growing up is that you think you know what life’s about, but people keep treating you like a stupid kid. I guess adulthood comes when you realize that you really don’t know crap and even the most seemingly confident people are still fumbling around more than half the time. If I can impart any wisdom to the youth of today, I’d say that the sooner you can acknowledge your own helplessness and innate stupidity, the better off you’ll be. You should still have goals and pursue them doggedly, but with the foreknowledge that everything can be derailed by something stupid like a freak volcanic eruption. But hey, at least you’re not the daughter of Trigon! So you don’t have that hanging over you. Let’s see how crummy Raven’s life is, so we can feel better about ourselves! Read on!

Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

Life Isn’t All About Fun and Cybernetic Eyes

Written By: Gerard Way and Jon Rivera 

Cover and Art By: Michael Avon Oeming 

Cover and Interior Colors By: Nick Filardi 

Letters By: Clem Robins 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: October 19, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Here it is, folks: the first Young Animal title featuring a character I know precisely nothing about. I mean, I’ve done a little bit of research, so I know about him now, but I’ve either never read comics featuring Cave or haven’t recalled his inclusion in the books I did read, so I’m going into this almost totally blind. Now we see what these revivalist comics are made of! If the issue is well-written, then I shouldn’t need to have read prior issues to put the pieces together—or, at least, be intrigued to read more. If It’s poorly-written, then I will probably come away as confused as some of you did after reading Doom Patrol. So let’s find out, shall we? Check out my review of Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye number one!

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

Tell Me Alien: Do You Hug?

Story By: Frank Miller & Brian Azzarello 

Pencils By: Andy Kubert 
Inks By: Klaus Janson 
Colors By: Brad Anderson 
Letters By: Clem Robins 
Cover By: Andy Kubert & Brad Anderson 
Cover Price: $5.99 
On Sale Date: October 19, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Hey, it’s another issue of Dark Knight III: The Master Race! Seems like the last one came out four months ago. Probably because it did come out four months ago! At this rate, this nine-issue monster should wrap up in time for Hillary Clinton’s second term in office. If our reptilian overlords want it that way, that is! I’ve said too much! Better to move on to the simple fun of a Batman comic book and check out the most recent issue of this sluggish series.

Batman #9 Review

Relish the Moment

Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mikel Janin, June Chung and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

I am a happy boy now that the Night of the Monster Men story is over and we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming.  First up is Tom King's I AM SUICIDE story and I already can't wait to see Batman's team.  Who will he pick???  I also can't wait until Batman heads off to kick Bane's ass with said team and gets revenge (and a cure) for what happened to Gotham Girl.  Do we get any of these things and is it good?  Let's find out...

Injustice:Ground Zero Chapter 3 Review

A Death in the Gang

Written by: Chris Sebela and Brian Buccellato

Art by: Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Wes Abbott

Cover Price: $0.99

Release Date: October 18, 2016

Review by: Dillyn Chadwick

Check out Dillyn's Podcast, DC Bros. Podcast HERE

Dillyn here back at you again with another Injustice review. I’ve been loving this story so far, it’s one of my favorite comics right now. Chapter 3 is part 1 of the “Sidekicks” story. Does it continue to impress or distress? Let’s take a look...

PREVIEW: Trinity #2

Written by: Francis Manapul
Art by: Francis Manapul and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

“BETTER TOGETHER” part two! Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman have uncovered a window into their very souls: and the power of temptation proves to be stronger than any villain they could battle! The bonds of friendship and trust between the most formidable heroes on the planet will be tested to their breaking point, with the lives of innocents hanging in the balance! 

PREVIEW: Nightwing #7

Written By: Tim Seeley
Art By: Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

“RISE OF RAPTOR” part one! The Parliament of Owls wasn’t brought to justice like Raptor promised Nightwing—it was eliminated! Raptor’s methods have crossed the line and Nightwing goes to apprehend him. Upon his arrival he discovers Raptor’s true intentions and obsessions…

Hopefully now that "The Night of The Monster Men" is over, we can see this series find it's footing and by find it's footing I mean, be something that I can really get into because even before that crossover took this book into nonsense territory, I can't say that I've really been digging what we've got.  Hopefully that's over now and I can get my Nightwing on and love the hell out of it.

PREVIEW: Superman #9

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason
Art By: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Trevor Scott, Wil Quintana, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

“RETURN TO DINOSAUR ISLAND” part two! Trapped on a strange island removed from time, Superman and Son encounter a lone survivor from the past. He may hold the key to their escape, but first they must survive the other denizens of the Island.

While I was sort of on the fence with the last issue of Superman, I really hope that this issue more than makes up for that and gives me the answers I'm looking for....... like how Jon was able to make that strange ass teleportation device and maybe why Superman would let him make something like that in the Fortress of Solitude for his science project in the first place.  I doubt I'll get the latter, but I certainly expect the former.

PREVIEW: Green Lanterns #9

Written By: Sam Humphries
Art By: Robson Rocha, Jay Leisten, Blond, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

“THE PHANTOM RING” part one! Uncover the mystery of the powerful Phantom Ring that forced a Guardian of the Universe to hide away in the deepest recess of space. Will Simon and Jessica be able to prevent a universe of power-hungry invaders from claiming the new ring for their own?

It's weird, now that we're getting into the Phantom Ring story, we've totally not seen anything about Simon's Emerald Sight....... and I'm okay with that.  We had so much stuff thrown at us initially, it was a bit overwhelming.  Hopefully this arc takes it's time and makes us all believers in this Green Lanterns series.

PREVIEW: Cyborg #3

Written By: John Semper Jr.
Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016

“THE IMITATION OF LIFE” part four! The lives of Vic Stone and the S.T.A.R. Labs crew are thrown into chaos following an assault by a twisted mechanical menace that believes it’s Cyborg’s true father! 

Goddamn was the last issue of Cyborg wordy as hell and took forever to get anywhere, but I will tell you that I was intrigued by the cliffhanger so hopefully that means there's something to this "Imitation of Life" story arc.......... I just know that I can't take another issue of talky robots quoting Shakespeare at me.

PREVIEW: Aquaman #9

When You Go to Amnesty Bay, Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Fur

Writer: Dan Abnett
Penciller: Scot Eaton
Inker: Wayne Faucher
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover: Brad Walker, Andrew
Hennessy & Gabe Eltaeb
Variant Cover: Joshua Middleton
Cover Price: $2.99 
On Sale Date: October 19, 2016 

“UNSTOPPABLE” part two! In the shocking conclusion to this story, the unstoppable juggernaut carves a new path toward Aquaman’s hometown of Amnesty Bay. So far, Arthur’s attempts to halt the creature have been fruitless, but to save his friends and neighbors, the sea king must do the unthinkable. 

Hold on, this is the shocking...conclusion? Could this be a two-part story, in the Age of Writing Comics for Trade Collections? After that bloated opening arc, I almost can't believe it. Just the idea of it has me very enthusiastic about this issue! The series has been up an down for me overall, but the last issue was good so here's holding out hope!

PREVIEW: Justice League #7

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Jesus Merino, Andy Owens, Adriano Lucas and Richard Starkings
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 19, 2016


“STATE OF FEAR” part two! In the conclusion to this story, a new threat that manipulates the fears of its victims has turned the Justice League against each other, and only heroes trained to overcome fear—Green Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz—can save Earth’s greatest heroes from themselves! 

I don't know about Simon, but Jessica sure had some problems last issue!  I guess we will have to see if she can overcome fear...and the worst table manners this side of Eric Shea...in order to save the world.