Nailbiter #30 Review

Questions and Answers

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Mike Henderson
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 1, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Review by: Repairman Jack

So the campy slasher horror series Nailbiter is coming to an end. I got into the series a little later in its run. I think it was on a list of top 5 horror comics currently running and the concept caught my attention right away. I was always a fan that leaned to the slasher side of horror and it seemed kind of rare for that style to pop up so I quickly took attention. So I come to this conclusion as a fan of the genre, who has had ups and downs with Nailbiter itself, and I can only hope it ends on the higher side of that spectrum.

Royal City #1 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Jeff Lemire
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 1, 2017
Cover Price: $4.99
Review by: Repairman Jack

Royal City is the latest of Jeff Lemire’s run of what I would call slice of life comic books. He doesn’t really like that name because as far as western comic books are concerned those are mostly seen as boring. As a longtime fan of Manga long before really investing into western comic books, I’m quite OK with calling it a slice of life book and not looking at that as a downside. Slice of life can hold a lot of things within it, it can broach a wide range of genre, so with that in mind I look forward to Royal City because the books he has done in the past, which I would consider in this style, have all been quite amazing. So is Royal City another home run in this department? Let’s find out.

James Bond: Black Box #1 Review

Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Rapha Lobosco
Colors: Chris O’Halloran
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover: John Cassaday
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

Now I’ve Got You In My Sights

[Insert the 007 movie intro of your choice]

Batman: Red Hood The Lost Days #1 Review - Retro Review

“The First Step”

Writer: Judd Winick

Artist: Pablo Raimondi

Colorist: Brian Reber

Letterer: Pat Brosseau

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: June 2, 2010

Review by: Deron Murphree 

Follow Deron on Twitter @DeronMurphree

 Hello comic book fans! I figured I’d take this opportunity to do a little retro-review about a story before the Under The (Red) Hood arc in the Batman comics. I am referring to the mini-series entitled, Red Hood, The Lost Days. These are the events that happen prior to a newly resurrected Jason Todd having an unexpected reunion with his former mentor, Batman. Are you intrigued yet? Let’s find out what happens in this opening issue.

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Fanboy Theories of Superman Reborn

Welcome to another super edition of Top 5 Fridays! This week we had the first part of the highly anticipated superman reborn story arc. Ever since first seeing the solicitation, I have been excited for the story, as it would continue to push the mystery of a rebirth forward, as well as bring back a superman that I feel belongs with his fellow Justice League members. As we got closer and closer to the start of the story arc, my inner theorist had been working around-the-clock, theorizing what could possibly be revealed in such a highly anticipated event. Today I'll be going over the five theories that I feel will either be confirmed, denied, or even shatter into more theories during this story. Like most lists, this is my own personal opinion of what I think could happen. If you don't like the theories I lay out for you, I would love to hear what you readers think. With the formalities out-of-the-way, let's put on our tinfoil hats and dive on in.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast JFTHOI ep 9: Top 5 Frenzy

It's Just for the Hell of It time once again!  This time the guys get together for a little thing they like to call, TOP FIVE FRENZY!!!  Yep, fifteen Top 5 lists coming at you rapid fire like!  After listening, you will know such things as Reggie's Top Baseball Player Name, Eric's Favorite Movie Bully and Jim's #1 Sports Video Game...plus a whole lot more!!!  Enjoy

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 3/1/17

Keep It Moving

This week brings a batch of covers that exhibit some really nice composition and movement, which is welcome when so many comic book covers consist of characters standing around or are drawn versions of the grade school photo featuring a frontal and profile view in the same image. But first, in honor of Get Fresh Crew member Toby Hagen and fine illustration everywhere, I'd like to extend an Honorable Mention to the variant cover for this week's issue of Harley Quinn. The composition isn't really interesting enough to make the actual list (indeed, it's more a gag cover in the MAD magazine tradition), but the line and form are absolutely impeccable. I know Frank Cho gets some guff on the internet for drawing "cheesecake," but if you can't appreciate work like this then I feel for you!

HONORABLE MENTION

Harley Quinn #15 variant

Frank Cho & Laura Martin

Weird Science Pop Culture Podcast Ep 5: Bill Paxton, Movie Trailers and Coachella

Jim and Eric get together to talk movie trailers (Alien: Covenant and Guardians of the Galaxy 2), the state of DC movie affairs (Batman and Nightwing in particular), the Coachella Festival and the unfortunate passing of Bill Paxton.  They also discuss vibrators, diarrhea, He-Man figures and artists in boulders.  Enjoy!

Supergirl: Being Super #2 Review

Something's in My Eye

Written by: Mariko Tamaki
Art by: Joelle Jones, Kelly Fitzpatrick and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: February 22, 2017

Okay, I admit that I was planning on laying low and skipping this title.  However, our "review everything" policy along with the accolades from the Get Fresh Crew (whoop whoop) made me think twice about being lazy and here I am, putting my review hat on later in the week than usual.  Some of you might know that Supergirl is one of my favorite characters, but after the first issue of Being Super, I kind of wrote it off and filed in in the "not for me" cabinet.  Now that I've read this issue, do I realize that I was a bit too hasty in my decision or am I going to seek out the GFC and take revenge on each and every one of them?  Let's find out...

Super Powers #5 Review

Highway to the Phantom Zone

Written by: Art Baltazar
Art by: Art Baltazar and FrancoCover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

I just love this book!  It's the perfect thing to wash away all of the dark grittiness that seems so popular with the in-crowd nowadays.  Each issue ends up being a who's who of crazy characters and heavy hitters alike.  So far, the story has revolved around Prym-El and a whole brain wash/control scheme of Brainiac.  So, how does this penultimate issue fare?  Let's find out...

Savage Things #1 Review

People are Strange

Written by: Justin Jordan
Art by: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jordan Boyd, Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

I have been in the mood for a gritty, mature title lately and out of nowhere...BOOM!  Justin Jordan's Savage things showed up and I figured I'd give it a quick read.  Well, I was impressed enough to review it and spoiler alert, will be picking up the next issue for sure.  I don't know why I'm saying that here when I should just get into the review.  Screw it...here is my review of Strange Things #1...

Shade the Changing Girl #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

Loma's da bomb.

Shade the Changing Girl #6
"earth girl made easy, chapter six: Homecoming"
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated by Marley Zarcone
Inks by Ande Parks
Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letters by Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
On-Sale Date: 03.01.2017


Megan just flew home, and boy is her soul tired.

Let's check in with our favorite maddies, and see how earth girl made easy shakes out!

The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Captain Atom Rebirth

Written By: Cary Bates, Greg Weisman

Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Saida Temofonte

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 1, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Alright, it's Captain Atom time and since we saw him flung into our present at the end of the last issue, I'm guessing he's got some answering to do not only to his wife who he disappeared on....... you know, with all that time flinging, but also to the government and the Justice League because he was a bit of a hazard back in 2012 when he blew the hell up.  What I'm really looking forward to here though is Captain Atom finding out about the child he has because before his powers kicked back in and time protected itself by throwing Captain Atom back into the future, we found out that his wife Takara was pregnant.  Let's jump into this issue and see how traveling through time has affected our hero and what he'll do now that he's all powered up again.  Let's check it out.

Harley Quinn #15 Review and **SPOILERS**

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It’s a Helluva Town

Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti 

Artists: Khari Evans, John Timms, Joseph Michael Linsner 

Colors: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair 

Assistant Editor: Dave Wielgosz 

Editor: Chris Conroy 

Group Editor: Mark Doyle 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: March 1, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I’ve lived in New York City all my life, and let me tell you: it’s a real pain in the ass. I mean, if you’re young and scrappy, it can seem electric and magical and all that romantic crap you’re fed from Woody Allen movies. But by and large, people in New York cope with their daily existences, the saving grace being the city’s many distractions. Oh yes, spend an hour on any busy Manhattan street and you’re sure to see one of those “only in New York” moments that city-folk seem to rave about, like a large rat hauling a pizza slice down a flight of subway steps. But the problem is that experiencing these events don’t make you a more rounded person, they just steel your resolve for living in New York City and make you a more hardened person. Now our Harley, though! She’s been downright sunshiney and positive since kicking that faux Joker to the curb. What’s she up to now, I wonder? Find out in my review!

Midnighter and Apollo #6 Review

Hell Is For Victims

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Fernando Blanco, Romulo Fajardo Jr and Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

I have really enjoyed this mini series to the point of being kind of sad it's ending.  That's quite the change since the New 52 Midnighter book and I give all the credit to Steve Orlando.  If you ask me, the focus of just having six issue to write really helped him and whether or not that's the case, I enjoyed almost all of what he gave us and couldn't wait to see how it all ends.  Well, the end is here, but is it good, bad or just plain ugly?  Let's go to hell and find out...

Aquaman #18 Review and **SPOILERS**

Well, There’s Your Answers

Writer: Dan Abnett 

Penciller: Scot Eaton 

Inker: Wayne Faucher 

Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb 

Letterer: Pat Brosseau 

Cover: Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy & Gabe Eltaeb 

Assistant Editors: Amedeo Turturro & Diego Lopez 

Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: March 1, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I gotta tell you, world events have really made me consider the value of good diplomacy. I mean, blustery pride in the arbitrary boundaries that comprise your nation-state is important, of course, but it’s nice to be cordial with your neighbors as well. That’s the line Aquaman has to dance, to remain the stalwart leader of the proud Atlantean people while maintaining good relations with folks on land. The fact that Atlantis could fairly well eradicate most of the world’s population with their far superior military makes his job even trickier. We’ve been sort of dwelling on this fact since the series began, but the idea of world relations is of current interest, so Aquaman’s burden gets special consideration. But what about issue #18? Is anyone going to consider that? You bet I do, right here!

Death of Hawkman #6 Review and *SPOILERS*

Say It Ain't So!

Written By: Marc Andreyko

Art By: Aaron Lopresti, John Livesay, Blond, Josh Reed

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 1, 2017

Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Well, it's do or die time and goddamn do I hope that DC doesn't go with die here.  Yeah, we have a story called "Death of Hawkman", but does anyone really want to see Katar really die?  It could just be a clever name to bring up sales and we're used to that so we wouldn't be too angry if Hawkman survived at the end of this............ right?  You bunch of bloodsuckers better not let my Hawkman die, but from what we saw at the end of the previous issue, things don't look good for our hero.  Not only did Despero become fused with a large deposit of Nth Metal, but he was also able to control minds across the Universe and use his new abilities to turn Hawkman's Nth metal against him.  Yeah, I don't know what Adam Strange and Hawkman were thinking here because it definitely looks like they bit off more than they can chew with this over the top baddy.  Let's jump into this issue and see how Hawkman prevails because we certainly didn't get enough of him over the past couple of years to justify his death in my mind.  Let's check it out.

Green Arrow #18 Review

Trick Shot

Written by: Benjamin Percy
Art by: Eleonora Carlini, Arif Prianto and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

When Rebirth was first announced, the word "legacy" was dished out more than bacon at my dream buffet and while other writers seemed to define it in strange ways, Ben Percy took it at face value and ran with it.  His Green Arrow run has been all about legacy and that's been the strongest part of it.  Ollie and Black Canary being together again, Emiko, Merlyn...the list actually does go on and on.  Of course, you can't talk Green Arrow legacy without at least referencing Roy Harper and Percy has a handful of times already.  However, nothing is better than the real deal and that's what we are getting this week.  Yep, Roy Harper is in the house and he's brought plenty of trick arrows (and baggage) with him!  I am a huge Roy fan and really have enjoyed him in the Titans book during Rebirth, but as they say, there is no place like home, right?  Well, that depends on a whole lot of things and anytime Roy gets involved, things can get a bit complicated.  So, is this a great welcome home for the former side kick or should he have just stayed in that fancy Titans Tower that Dick Grayson just built?  Let's find out...

Green Lanterns #18 Review and *SPOILERS*

Ten Billion Years Is Too Long

Written By: Sam Humphries

Art By: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Alex Sollazzo, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that we've gotten our in-depth look at Jessica Cruz' anxiety and saw Simon put his gun down in the Green Lanterns/Batman team-up, it's time to get back to the story we were left with after the Lanterns took down Frank Laminski and that's all about Volthoom taking over the body of Rami the Guardian.  It's funny to me because here we have the First Lantern, who took on all of the Corps' of the Emotional Spectrum and who now is in the body of a Guardian, one of the most powerful beings in the Universe and to stand up against him we have two rookie Lanterns who have a whole ton of problems outside of being Earth's protectors.  This is going to be a weird arc, but man I hope it's fun because I'd like to see Simon and Jessica step up and show the world what they really have.  Let's jump into this issue and find out the origin of Volthoom and see everything he went through to make him the mad god that he became.  Let's check it out.

Superman #18 Review and *SPOILERS*

Amber Alert: Hamilton County

Written By: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason

Art By: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 1, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Well, our first Superman crossover with Action Comics is here and even though it feels like we've waited forever for this Reborn story to happen so we can find out what the deal is with Mr. Oz saying that Clark and his family and even the New 52 Superman aren't what they think they are.  Even though it's been awhile, now that we're here....... it's weird to me that it's already happening.  I mean, I feel like we should have had some more hints and clues thrown our way up to this point, but maybe I'm just crazy.  So yeah, I don't know what Jon's little adventure into Deadman's Swamp in the previous issue of Superman will have to do with this if anything, but what I do know is that we're finally going to get to the bottom of who that human Clark Kent is and what his major malfunction is all about.  Let's jump into this issue and get this crossover started so we can stop pulling our hair out at all the possibilities.  Let's check it out.

Cyborg #10 Review and *SPOILERS*

Willard 2.0

Written By: John Semper Jr.

Art By: Will Conrad, Szymon Kudranski, Ivan Nunes, Guy Major, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 1, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Anomaly is out of the closet and ready to start kicking the world while it's down...... it's just too bad that our hero isn't around to stop him.  That's right, in the previous issue of Cyborg, we saw Vic discover that Anomaly has been posing as his father for awhile now and we even got into the big back story about how Anomaly came to be......... it's Silas' fault.  Yeah, there's more to the story to that, but it has to do with OTAC genes, discarding clones and torture to the point of sentience, which I don't fully understand so I won't get into it, but the big takeaway from last issue is that Cyborg might have met his match because Anomaly gives our hero a virus, causing him to go blind and as we ended the previous issue, Exxy and Cyborg went underground........ literally, to purge Vic of the malware and to hopefully get themselves right for the next encounter with this big bad.  Let's jump into this issue and see how things are going and also, what Anomaly plans on doing to Variant now that he has her unguarded.  Let's check it out.

Justice League #16 Review

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Brad Anderson and Richard Starkings
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

I know I haven't been too kind on the Justice League book since Rebirth started, but to be honest, it's hard to find more than a handful of fans on board with what Bryan Hitch has been cooking.  I could go into the usual list of the usual suspects, but instead I will tell you that the first issue of this Timeless arc may not have been as bad as some (including myself) thought.  Sure, it was a bit of a convoluted mess, without proper setup and hokey dialogue (stay with me here), but underneath all that seemed to be a story waiting for a cool kid to notice it, dress it up in hip clothes and She's All That it.  Time travel stories can be difficult at times, but when you throw characters and plot devices from your past books (JLA) and don't properly explain them, it's really hard to get off on the right foot or any for that matter.  However, having the Justice League spread out through time and space at "points of power" to save the superhero way of life sounds cool and the art was pretty kick ass.  So, does Part Two give us some much needed background and information to turn this story rightside up?  Let's find out...

Nightwing #16 Review and *SPOILERS*

Baby Mama Drama

Written By: Tim Seeley

Art By: Javier Fernandez, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Price $2.99

Release Date: March 1, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Well, Nightwing went and got his fool self falling in love and like any other time that any hero in the history of comics has gone and done this out of nowhere........ it's never turned out well.  In the previous issue we walked through the first two months of Dick and Shawn's relationship and saw all the highs and lows and even the self sabotaging moments that Shawn created because she wasn't quite sure of who she really was or whether or not she really deserved happiness because of her past transgressions has a super villain.  It all seemed to work itself out though by the end........... and why wouldn't it?  Dick's superpower seems to be just being a great guy and we saw that in spades last issue and even saw him telling Bruce that he loves his new girlfriend.  Too bad that someone came up behind her and either took her or just straight up hurt her.  Let's jump into this issue and find out what happened to Shawn Tsang and hopefully find out that she's fine because I'd hate to see Nightwing suffer with this kind of guilt.  Let's check it out.

Batman #18 Review

I Am Impressed

Written by: Tom King
Art by: David Finch, Danny Miki, Jordie Bellaire and John Workman
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

It looks like Bane is in town...with a few days to kill.  Actually, from the look of last issue's cliffhanger, the time is now!  While he was using the old "can't see me" tactic at the beginning of the arc, Tom King and David Finch have him front and center now and it's the old Bane that everyone...well, mostly everyone loves.  That's the thing, King's Batman run has been chock full of Bane to the point that it makes Scott Snyder's obsession with writing the Joker look paltry in comparison.  At least he's got some clothes on now, am I right?!?  To be quite honest, I was never a huge Bane fan, but I am counting on King to give me the best damn Bane story I have ever read.  Is this becoming just that or should Bane just go back to sitting on his throne of skulls butt naked in Santa Prisca?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Savage Things #1

Written by: Justin Jordan
Art by: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jordan Boyd, Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

Twenty-five years ago, a secret government organization kidnapped children and trained them to be chaos agents who went on to foment unrest and execute enemies of the state around the world. When these cold and unfeeling creations proved too difficult to control, the powers that be exterminated their kill squad with extreme prejudice.

Too bad it didn’t work.

Now a rogue band of the worst monsters the world has ever known is cutting a swath of terror across the United States, threatening not just a disruption of the peace but to expose secrets their handlers never wanted to come to light. The only way to stop them is to call back the only man who ever walked away from them. His code name is Abel, and he’s not afraid of getting his hands bloody.

This new eight-issue miniseries from writer Justin Jordan (The Legacy of Luther Strode) and artist Ibrahim Moustafa (High Crimes) features the action of the Jason Bourne movies with the gruesome horror of classic grindhouse! 

PREVIEW: Super Powers #5

Written by: Art Baltazar
Art by: Art Baltazar and Franco

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

The Legion of Doom’s ultimate threat has been revealed—and Superman’s family is in jeopardy! Will this new threat be the end of our Justice League heroes? Guest-starring Firestorm, Hawkman and more! But wait, that’s not all!


Prepare yourself for the moment when…Apokolypse attacks! 

I can't wait!  This is such a great book for every single person alive and you should all go get them a copy!  They can thank me later...even though you bought it for them.  Sorry, that's just how I roll!

PREVIEW: Midnighter and Apollo #6

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Fernando Blanco, Romulo Fajardo Jr and Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 1, 2017

Midnighter always knew it wouldn’t be easy to fight his way out of Hell…but did he ever consider that it might be impossible? Even with Apollo’s strength by his side, some wars just can’t be won…is this never-ending battle finally over?

As the late, great Bill Paxton said in Aliens..."Game Over Man, Game Over!"