X-O Manowar #3 Review

X-O Manowar #3

Writer: Matt Kindt

Art Team: Tomas Giorello, David Mack, Zu Orzu, Diego Rodriguez

Valiant Comics

Release Date: May 24, 2017

Cover Price: $3.99

Aric-zander the Great

When Valiant re-released a title called X-O Manowar several years back, and fifty issues ago, I’m fairly convinced they knew what they had on their hands because X-O Manowar is just such a bad ass attention grabbing name.  Fast forward to 2017 three issues into a new relaunch, set in a future off Earth for our hero, and it remains as bad ass as it began all that time ago.  Seriously though pick up a new issue of X-O Manowar; I have nothing but people thanking me for telling them to spend $3.99! These are strange times indeed so let’s check out issue three and see if that momentum keeps up.

Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern #4 Review

Get Your Rings Off of Me...

Written by: Justin Jordan and Robbie Thompson

Art by: Barnaby Bagenda
Colours by: Alex Guimarães
Letters by: Ed Dukeshire
Published by Boom! Studios and DC Comics
Price: $3.99

This crossover series has been, up to now, pretty much what crossovers should be – a fun, rollicking collision of two well-established series with enough references to the more recognizable features and elements of each franchise to keep the more casual reader interested and a few curveballs (including one rather large gorilla-shaped one) to prevent the more ardent fan from getting too jaded by the whole thing. We left last issue with the shock revelation that the Earth of Planet of the Apes has been visited by a member of the Green Lantern Corps at some time in its past, while, somewhere in the Forbidden Zone, the Red Lanterns have shown up and are looking to take control of the Universal Ring for themselves. The stage appears to be in the process of being set for a big showdown. Will that start this issue? Or are there a few more props to be moved around first? There’s only one way to find out…

Black Hammer #9 Review

Stop...Hammer Time

Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: David Rubin and Dave Stewart
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 24, 2017

I’m not sure if it was the small hiatus, or the lackluster annual, but it seemed to take a new issue headed into a new arc to really get me in the headspace that Black Hammer requires. Coming off the last issue with possibly the first genuine plot twist of the books run, I have been clamoring to get my hands on this next issue. So without further ado let’s make the jump to the actual review.

Old Guard #4 Review

Out With The Old...

Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Leandro Fernandez
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: May 24, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Greg Rucka’s The Old Guard has struggled to keep me engaged coming into this issue. Though it’s continued to go up for me since the first issue, I can only hope that keeps that trajectory leading into today’s issue. With two of Andy’s team members kidnapped and a new member on the team we look forward to these threads coming together and coming to a head. So let’s get to it after the jump.

Aliens: Dead Orbit #2 Review and **Spoilers**

Dead or Alive

Writer: James Stokoe
Artist: James Stokoe
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 24th, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

I find it hard to express just how much of an absolute gem I found the first issue of James Stokoe’s Aliens: Dead Orbit and just how excited I have been waiting and anticipating reading this second issue. After what feels like months when I finally got this issue in my hands and didn’t hesitate before jumping into this issue head first. Now I want to do the exact same thing with this review.

Underwinter #3 Review and **Spoilers**

I See London...

Writer: Ray Fawkes
Artist: Ray Fawkes
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: May 24, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

Underwinter has been a book that has absolutely plagued me. I knew nothing going in other than it being a horror book that seemed to be an anthology going from story to story. Two issues in and I can do nothing but hope that my issues with the book are due to this specific story and that it could possibly get better when moving on to a different story. With this issue I go in just hoping it becomes coherent and the art become more distinguishable.

Plastic #2 Review

Paper or Plastic?

Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Daniel Hillyard
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: April 24, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

The first issue of Doug Wagner’s Plastic left me a bit confused on how much was intentional and just how much was changes or confusion from the original solicit. Although it had me confused I had so much enjoyment with the book that I was able to look past a lot of my complaints and just accept it as stuff that will clear up as I go along. Moving in to this second issue I’m looking for a little clarification but hoping that doesn’t get in the way of the crazy fun that made the first issue so enjoyable. So without further ado let’s jump in and see what we get.

Curse Words #5 Review

That Wizord Is One Sexy Man

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Ryan Browne, Michael Garland and Chris Crank
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 17, 2017
Review by: Josh Vermillion


After a slower fourth issue, I’m fully expecting an action packed fifth one. This book has looked fantastic from the start, and the story is really starting to grab me and make me want to keep reading. It’s always over the top and fun, so let’s jump in and see if that trend continues.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Deathstroke #19 (Lazarus Contract Part 3)

Jim and Eric talk all about Deathstroke and the Lazarus Contract...is it good, is it new reader friendly, can you crap lightning?  Believe me, you will find out all that and probably more than you really want to.  If you like what you hear, listen to our big podcast that comes out every Sunday night.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 5/24/17

Silliness Will Get You Everywhere

Boy, I sure do love to laugh. I'm sort of unique in that way. When I get to laughin', I can chortle and guffaw with the best of 'em, I guarantee it. That's why you'll always pique my interest by throwing a little comedy on a comic book cover. And it happened a couple of times this week! Wanna see? Well keep on reading!

Deathstroke #19 Review

Better Off Dead

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Larry Hama, Carlo Pagulayan, Roberto Viacava, Jason Paz, Sean Parsons, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 24, 2017

The Lazarus Contract may have looked exciting on paper, but unfortunately, it wasn't comic book paper.  I hate to say it, but the story itself has been pretty boring and we've mostly been treading water since it began.  It's as if the three writer (Priest, Percy and Abnett) are more concerned with showing us all the characters involved instead of the story they are telling.  With only four issues, things better start moving...now!  So, does Christopher Priest shove things into gear and give us major forward momentum?  Let's find out...

Batman/The Shadow #2 Review and **Spoilers**

Stag Party

Written by: Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Colours by: Ivan Plascencia
Letters by: Clem Robins
Price: $3.99


The first issue of this DC/Dynamite crossover did a reasonable job of getting our two crime-fighting vigilantes together and presenting the reader with an intriguing if somewhat confusing mystery about just who The Shadow is and why he might have killed Lamont Cranston, a pleasant enough man who turned out to be a descendant of the original Shadow. That issue ended with the revelation that The Shadow is actually Bruce Wayne’s old mentor, Henry Ducard. How will Batman respond to this revelation? And what path will the story take, now that the initial mystery of The Shadow’s identity seems to have been cleared up? Well, there’s only one way to find out…

Mother Panic #7 Review and **SPOILERS**

The Bag Man Cometh?

Mother Panic #7
"Victim Complex, Part 1"
Writer: Jody Houser
Interior and Cover Art: John Paul Leon
Interior Colors: Dave Stewart
Letterer: John Workman
Cover Price: $3.99 
On Sale Date: May 24, 2017 

Just recently I met up with some old friends of mine.  Fellas I haven't seen in years.  We used to work together, though I may want to use quotes around "work".

A lot of our time was spent goofing off and messing with our other co-workers... think the Swamp from M*A*S*H, only without the medical degree... or the charm.

Anyhoo, while we were working together YouTube kinda became a "thing" and took off, and so... like so many other office drones of the day, we began wasting way too much time watching stupid videos.

While at dinner the other night, one old buddy asks me "Hey, you remember Tourettes Guy?" (and I mention this fully expecting nobody reading to have any idea who I'm talking about... though, it should be self-explanatory)

... and, no lie... this book was the first thing I thought of.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #21 Review and **SPOILERS**

I’m My Own Grandpa’s Murderer

Writer: Robert Vendetti 

Penciller: V. Ken Marion 

Inker: Dexter Vines 

Colorist: Dinei Ribeiro 

Letterer: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Ethan Van Sciver and Jason Wright 

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: May 24, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

We left on quite the cliffhanger last issue, didn’t we? John, Guy and most of the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps throwing down their rings before those pointy prism monsters! Hal and Rip Hunter on their way to space sector whatchamacallit to retrieve Krona’s Gauntlet! Kyle and Soranik…well, flirting while shoving the infirm into Sciencells for safekeeping. But everyone was doing something! Let’s not delay, then, and hop right into my review of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #21, right now!

Action Comics #980 Review and *SPOILERS*

Lost In The Dark

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Patrick Zircher, Hi-Fi, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 24, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to get back to the Superman Revenge Squad and their ultimate plan to kill our Man of Steel.  In our previous issue, we saw Mongul brought in the fold from his Black Mercy Prison and if there's one thing I've learned in the course of my life....... it's that Mongul doesn't play well with others.  That is until, you slap him around a bit and show him who's boss, which Hank Henshaw certainly did after the group recovered the second half the Oblivion Stone for him, transforming him back into the Cyborg Superman we all know and love....... not that lame ass one from the Supergirl book.  Anyway, the team is almost fully assembled and all they need now to complete their roster is someone who can access the Fortress of Solitude........ which seems like something Eradicator could do, but whatever, who I'm talking about is General Zod.  Let's jump into this issue and see if the Superman Revenge Squad can recruit Amanda Waller's newest member of the Suicide Squad and if Superman has any chance in hell of winning the day against these heavy hitters.  Let's check it out.

Batgirl #11 Review and **SPOILERS**

Blackened Blacksun

Script: Hope Larson 

Pencils & Cover: Chris Wildgoose 

Inks: Jon Lam 

Colors: Mat Lopes 

Letters: Deron Bennett 

Variant Cover: Francis Manapul 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: May 24, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

We return to the misadventures of the most naïve superhero in the DC Universe, Batgirl! Will she blunder into another obvious trap, or completely misjudge someone’s character again? Who can say? I can! Read my review of Batgirl #11, and wonder no longer.

Wonder Woman #23 Review and *SPOILERS*

Love Will Find A Way

Written By: Greg Rucka

Art By: Liam Sharp, Hi-Fi, Jodi Wynne

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 24, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

The Truth is coming to an end here and all we have left is one more Godwatch story and an epilogue to tie everything together......... and for what we've been given so far, I really hope that's enough to make sense of the year of Wonder Woman that we've been given that seems to have retconned the New 52.  In our previous issue to The Truth story, we saw Veronica Cale and Wonder Woman find their way to the gateway to Themyscira.......... and the dog versions of Phobos and Deimos, which I'm sure won't go and bite our hero in the ass or anything, but the kicker was, Instead of finding her way home finally, Diana came face to face with Ares.  Let's jump into this issue and see how everything comes together here and see if Wonder Woman can finally find the truth that she's been searching for.  Let's check it out.

Suicide Squad #18 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Kryptonian Lobotomy

Story: Rob Williams 

Pencils: Tony S. Daniel 

Inks: Sandu Florea 

Colors: Tomeu Morey 

Lettering: Pat Brosseau 

Cover: Daniel and Florea with Morey

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: May 24, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

The more I think about it, the more I realize that the Suicide Squad is analogous to the characters from Archie comics. Rick Flag is Archie himself. Captain Boomerang is Jughead. Deadshot is Reggie Mantle. Killer Croc is Moose. Harley Quinn is Veronica. The Enchantress is Betty. No wait, the other way around. Katana is Big Ethel. Amanda Waller is Mr. Weatherbee. Who else? General Zod can be Bazooka Joe. Okay, let’s get to my review of Suicide Squad #18 already!

The Hellblazer #10 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Tim Seeley is Writing The Hellblazer Beginning in August

Writer: Simon Oliver 

Penciller: Davide Fabbri 

Inker: José Marzan Jr. 

Colorists: Carrie Strachan with Tony Aviña 

Lettering: Sal Cipriano 

Cover Artist: Riley Rossmo

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: May 25, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Tim Seeley, Jesus Merino, and Chris Sotomayor are The Hellblazer's new creative team starting in August.

Batman Beyond #8 Review and *SPOILERS*

Face of the Demon

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 24, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Let's jump in our time machine and head to thirty-five years from now so that we can see what our Batman Beyond is up to.  In our previous issue, we frustratingly saw Terry McGinnis slack on his Batman responsibilities so that he could have some "me time", but thankfully, he got on the trolley and started acting like Batman in time to save Barbara Gordon and Curare from the League of Assassins.  Too bad he was wearing the prototype Bat Suit that Bruce deems too dangerous for anyone to wear because it could mean the wearers death, but Terry doesn't have time for all that jibber jabber and ignores the old man so that he can continue kicking ass and taking names.  Eventually though, Curare and Batman had themselves some quiet time so that the assassin could tell our hero that the reason she was in town is because Ra's Al Ghul is back and plans on using the weakness of the world after the Brother Eye invasion to remake the planet in the image he's always wanted.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Terry smartens the hell up and gets out of that prototype suit or continues to do the dumb shit and makes us pull our hair out.  Let's check it out.

Kamandi Challenge #5 Review

Tiger Hunter

Written by: Bill Willingham
Art by: Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert, Marcelo Maiolo and Clem Robins
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 24, 2017

Every time this book pops up to review, I keep thinking the same thing...why was I so against it when it was announced?  Sure, I am not the biggest fan, but I love goofy fun and this book is just that.  Of course, the whole "challenge" part of it makes it that much more goofy and while I've seen some reviewers say that the concept keeps this book from being a true Kamandi book, I don't care what they say...I love it.  So, does this issue keep the fun train rolling?  Let's find out...

Justice League of America #7 Review and *SPOILERS*

Ice, Ice, Baby

Written By: Steve Orlando

Art By: Jamal Campbell, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 24, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I'm already sick of this title and it kills me because I love strange teams like this one and I thought that we'd get something like a spotlight of lesser known heroes coming out of this series, but instead we get a shit ton of nonsense and a story that merely takes place so that our heroes can get all preachy about the woes of the world by the end.  That doesn't interest me and neither does cheesy stories with bad dialog.......which we're getting in abundance here on top of continuity being completely thrown out the window with each issue it seems.  In our previous issue, we saw our heroes take down Aegeus and save Penn City from the villain and also poverty, but now it seems that Ryan Choi has found a means to save Killer Frost from herself in the form of a cure for her "I must suck all of your heat to survive" sickness.  Let's jump into this issue and see if that's indeed the case and if we can get something decent out of this issue.  Let's check it out.

Blue Beetle #9 Review and *SPOILERS*

Half Cocked, But Fully Loaded

Written By: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis

Art By: Scott Kolins, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Josh Reed

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 24, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Blue Beetle has been a strange title for me to read because it was something that I begged and begged the comic book gods to bestow upon me...... pretty much right after the last series was cancelled in the New 52, but now that I've finally gotten it....... I can't say that I've really enjoyed it at all.  With that being said, I will tell you that I have a bit of renewed faith in the series now that J.M. DeMatteis is on script because he's been a writer that I've enjoyed for years and also, I'm looking for anything I can get right now that might change this series for the better.  In our previous issue, we saw the power of Arion begin to take over El Paso and that power manifested in the form of the townspeople transforming into the insect looking Horde army of the ancient Atlantean Sorcerer.  Yeah, that included Jaime's mother too, but it might not be all bad........... Well, it might, but what I'm getting at is, we saw Kevin Kho show up and turn into OMAC when the Horde started attacking so yeah, we might have OMAC go and kill everyone before Arion does or we might just get the bruiser helping our hero as he takes the fight to Arion so that he can save his town.  Only problem there, he's sans scarab right now and has dawned Ted Kord's old costume to fight.......... which he has no training with.  Let's jump into this issue and see how our heroes plan on winning the day.  Let's check it out.

Detective Comics #957 Review

Written by: James Tynion IV and Christopher Sebela
Art by: Carmen Carnero, Karl Story, Richard Friend, Javier Mena and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 24, 2017

While I thought that the League of Shadows story was a disappointment after getting so much setup leading into it, I was happy to see the focus put on Cassandra Cain.  This book's appeal lives and dies with the members of "The Detective Squad" and for a bit there, it was looking like it was just turning into another Batman book.  One of the members I really wanted to see more of was Stephanie Brown, but after Tim Drake's "death", she quit the Team and I was worried she would just fade into the shadows, never to be heard from again.  I know, that is silly, but I get worried about things, real or not...that's just who I am.  So, when I saw what this issue was about, I got pretty pumped.  So, now that I read it, am I still pumped?  Let's find out...

Injustice 2 Chapter #7 Review

Fear and Common Sense

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Rex Lokus and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: May 24, 2017

I love Injustice...Injustice: Gods Among Us and now Injustice 2.  It's kind of crazy since I have never played a second of either game (I'm not a fighting game fan), but that hasn't stopped me one bit.  I guess I'm a sucker for great characters in a well thought out and exciting story.  Go figure.  Because of this book, I look forward to Tuesdays as the start of my new comic week.  So, how did this week start out?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Action Comics #980

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Patrick Zircher, Hi-Fi, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 24, 2017

“REVENGE” part two! Both Superman and the Revenge Squad must traverse the deadly Black Vault in a race against time to reach General Zod! Amanda Waller’s secret Kryptonian weapon reveals himself to the world, but Cyborg Superman and Eradicator move in to recruit him. Tying directly into the events of this month’s Suicide Squad issues—and no matter who wins in this epic showdown, it spells certain doom for the Last Son of Krypton!

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman #23

Written By: Greg Rucka

Art By: Liam Sharp, Hi-Fi, Jodi Wynne

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 24, 2017

“The Truth” part five! The conclusion to Diana’s search for the truth takes her on a journey into darkness. But the price of understanding may be one sacrifice too many for Wonder Woman…