Hack/Slash vs Vampirella #1

Hack Attack

Writer: Shawn Aldridge
Art: Rapha Lobosco
Publisher: Dynamite
Publication Date: 4 October 2017
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy


You know Halloween must be around the corner when a title like Hack/Slash vs Vampirella makes its way onto your pull-list. Yes, this week saw the paths of Cassie Hack, her sidekick Vlad and Vampirella converge as they stumble across the activities of a serial killer on the loose in Vegas. They can't resist the temptation to do a bit of crime solving while on holiday in order to bring the guilty party to justice. Let's dip in.

Shadowman: Rae Sremmurd #1

Went down to the crossroads, Fell down on my knees.

Written by: Eliot Rahal
Art by: Renato Guedes
Cover Price: $3.99
Publisher: Valiant
Release Date: October 4, 2017   


Let me just make one thing clear from the start. If I open a comic book, and the first page shows me, via some awesome Renato Guede art, Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues singers - opening his guitar case, "somewhere in Mississippi a long time ago", then I will be successfully reeled in.

Warframe #1 Review

Freeze Frame

Story: Matt Hawkins
           Ryan Cady
Art: Studio Hive
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy


 
Okay, so here's the deal, I have no knowledge of Warframe the game. That being said surely the creators of this new comic book would recognize that at least some comic book readers wouldn't have played the game. After all, the two formats are completely different, with comic books a more passive form of engagement with characters within a story.

Rocket Girl #10 Review

Rocket 86                           

Written by: Brandon Montclare
Art by: Amy Reeder
Cover Price: $3.99
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: 4 October 2017
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy





There's an end-to end quality about Rocket Girl as a title that is immediately apparent. It just seems to deliver up a fully formed world, with art and writing working in perfect harmony. This issue closes the second volume of the title but not, according to writer Montclare, the series as a whole. The artist (art, coloring, lettering, and book design) Amy Reeder has referred to the fact that the series has given her scope to show what she was capable of, with fewer cooks to spoil the broth. Thank goodness there weren't more cooks because consistently this series has showcased some of the finest comic book art of the year. 

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Batman #32

Jim and Eric talk about the finale of the Jokes and Riddles.  Do they like it? Listen and find out...Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday: Aquaman #25 Review

The King is Dead, Long Live the King

Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Paul Pelletier
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 27, 2013

Before the New 52, Aquaman suffered as the butt of most of the jokes in the DC Universe. Geoff Johns has remedied that and with his final issue of his run  shows us just how great the character has become and will continue to be.

Savage Things #8 Review and ***SPOILERS***

A New Mark Of Cain

Written by: Justin Jordan

Art by: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jordan Boyd, and Josh Reed

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

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

Well, here we are: the final issue of Justin Jordan’s crazy, awesome story. Everything—every crazy, balls-to-the-wall action scene, every twist, every flashback—has all been leading to this. I think it’s safe to say that I have been a big fan of this series thus far. The storytelling has been superb, the art looks great, and the characters are fun to read. I fully expect that to shine forth even more in this final issue, so let’s jump right in and see how Abel and Cain’s story comes to an end.

Gotham City Garage #4 Review

Gotham City Garage #4

Writer: Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing

Art Team: Lynne Yoshi, Jose Marzan Jr., Kelly Fitzpatrick

DC Comics (digital first edition)

Release Date: October 4, 2017

Cover Price: $.99

A Little Flair Never Hurt Anyone

Gotham City Garage concludes its first digital arc this week and I’m pumped to see where it goes from here.  Last issue we switched to the story being told from the point of view of Barda, which was an interesting choice, but went over well enough if you ask me. So check in with me here this issue and let's see if the ladies of Gotham City Garage can catch up to the Red Hood M.C..

Justice League #30 Review

Daddy Daycare

Written by: Bryan Hitch
Art by: Fernando Pasarin, Andy Owens, Mick Gray, Batt, Scott Hanna, Brad Anderson, Richard
Starkings and Comicraft's Jimmy
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 4, 2017

I think that everyone who wrote off Bryan Hitch's run on Justice League and skipped this final story are missing out on a pretty good one.  Hitch has given readers some very likable young characters in these future kids of the Justice League and their are some that I hope will continue out of this.  Yea, I kind of know that isn't happening, but I can still hope.  Last issue ended with a bunch of messed up things going on so I couldn't wait to see what happens in this issue.  Well, is it any good?  Let's find out...

Dastardly & Muttley #2 Review

Hole-y Hell!

Written by: Garth Ennis
Art by: Mauricet
Colours by: John Kalisz
Letters by: Rob Steen
Published by: DC Comics
Price: $3.99


Last month’s issue ended with the (not very) shocking revelation that Colonel Dick Atcherly’s one-time flying partner, Captain D. “Mutt” Muller, had somehow fused with his dog to become a mutt-faced dog-human hybrid and was now intent on ‘rescuing’ him from a military hospital. This is the hospital in which Atcherly had woken up and been interrogated by two intelligence agents, one of whom was acting very strangely indeed. Of course, Atcherly was only in hospital because his plane had encountered a rogue drone spraying reality-altering gas around the place and become partially cartoonified in the process. (‘Cartoonified’ is now a word. Just go with it.) This being a Garth Ennis comic based on a beloved Hanna-Barbera property, you might expect a somewhat light-hearted approach to things. What was as unexpected as it was welcome, however, was the thoroughly engaging portrayal of the titular characters. All in all, issue 1 was a very enjoyable introduction to the series. The question is… can issue 2 build on that strong start successfully?

Green Arrow #32 Review

On the Dark Side

Written by: Ben Percy and Joshua Williamson
Art by: Juan Ferreyra and Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 4, 2017

I have not been a huge fan of these Gotham Resistance Metal tie-ins, but this is the final issue and this is also written by both Ben Percy and Joshua Williamson...two heads are better than one, right?  Plus, Juan Ferreyra is on art, so I am totally pumped for that.  So, was it good?  Let's find out...

Deathstroke #24 Review

Lone Gunman 

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Diogenes Neves, Jason Paz, Trevor Scott, Jeremy Cox and Willie Schubert
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 4, 2017

Deathstroke is easily one of my top three comics I read right now.  Priest has done such a good job of tying even the littlest details up in his story that no matter what he throws at the reader, I am confident it will be explained and be important at some time soon.  Because of that, I love being confused by this book and like trying to figure things out on my own...even though I'm a big dummy and usually don't.  So, does this latest chapter of the Stroke Squad continue the awesomeness?  Let's find out...

Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Pep Comics Tijuana Bible

Written By: Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko

Drawn By: Laura Braga 

Colored By: Tony Aviña and Arif Prianto 

Lettered By: Deron Bennett 

Cover By: Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: October 4, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Why do we want our corporately-held intellectual properties to crossover with other corporately-held intellectual properties? It’s a tradition in comic books going back to Golden Age, when All-American and National publishers combined their house characters to form…the Justice Society of America. And that, my fellow comics enthusiasts, is today’s Comics Brain Melt. My name is Reggie, and I…oh, I gotta review a comic book too? Well, if I must, here’s my review of Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica #1, for your readin’!

Harley Quinn #29 Review and **SPOILERS**

Awful for Public Office

Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti 

Artists: Miraka Andolfo, Michael Kaluta, Tom Derenick 

Color: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: October 4, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Looks like Harley Quinn is really going all the way with this New York Mayor stuff! Frankly, I wish she really was running this year. We’ve got such a sleazy bunch of mooks on the docket, when you line ‘em up it looks like the Evolution of Man. Let’s fantasize of a world where the worst thing we have to worry about from our elected officials is getting walloped with an oversized mallet, in my review of Harley Quinn #29, right here!

All-Star Batman #14 Review

Broken Mirror

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Rafael Albuquerque, Jordie Bellaire and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 4, 2017

I have enjoyed this arc of All-Star Batman so this issue is a bit bittersweet.  We get to see the mystery of the First Ally, but then it's all over.  Yep, this is the final issue of the series and while Scott Snyder is hinting it may come back in some other way, I'm going to miss it.  So, is this a great sendoff?  Let's find out...

Superman #32 Review and *SPOILERS*

Crossing The Line

Written By: James Bonny

Art By: Tyler Kirkham, Arif Prianto, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Superman Vs. Deathstroke............ Yeah, while some of you out there may not think that means much because.......... Well, because it's Superman, we've seen in Rebirth that with Deathstroke's gravity sheath armor, he can take a lot of damage and dish out its equal amount and with Superman's "no killing" policy..... well, that makes Slade Wilson one hell of a threat.  Especially, where we left off last issue with Deathstroke having a gun pointing at Lois Lane's face and pulling the trigger.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Slade is upset about the story that Lois wrote about him or if he's in Metropolis with a few days to kill for another reason.  Let's check it out.

Green Lanterns #32 Review and *SPOILERS*

Pancakes and Problems

Written By: Sam Humphries

Art By: Scott Godlewski, Hi-Fi, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Okay, we have our Lantern heroes back on Earth and with that.......... hopefully, some bad ass adventures now that Volthoom has been put on the back burner for the time period.  Yeah, there's not a lot of things to talk about going into this book because our heroes are just back from their jaunt to Ten Billion years in the past and they're trying to get their lives back on track from where they left it.  Let's jump into this issue and see how they do.

Nightwing #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Raptor's Delight

Written By: Tim Seeley

Art By: Miguel Mendonca, Diana Egea, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that we've got our book back and it's done being hijacked by Metal and its tie-ins, it's time to get back to Bludhaven and hopefully, more of Blockbuster.  In our previous installment to our regular series, we were told on the last page by Tiger that while Mr. Minos was in control of Spyral he let Raptor out of his cell and while I don't think this completely lines up with Raptor's appearance in Deathstroke and with where we left the character, it seems that he's going to be coming back to the Nightwing series in a big way........... I just hope it's a good way because as of right now, I don't like Raptor very much.  That being said, let's jump into this issue and see if there's any ramifications from Shawn seeing Dick getting busy with Helena Bertinelli.  Let's check it out.

Batman #32 Review and *SPOILERS*

Who Cares?

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Mikel Janin, June Chung, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's finally over boys and girls.  The War of Jokes and Riddles is coming to an end with this issue and because each issue seemed disjointed as hell and because nothing was ever explained from each plot point to the next............ I just really don't care anymore.  I'll let you in on what went down previously before we get into the nitty gritty though because you're cute and I like you, but don't even think for a second that I'm doing it because this story needs to be told more.  Previously, we saw our Dark Knight working with the Riddler as the two found  out where Joker was hiding, now that all of his troops were taken out....... or arrested.......... or locked up by the Riddler........ we don't really know.  Anyway, everything boiled down to Kite-Man betraying the Riddler after giving all of his troops kites that made them fly up to a Bat-Blimp and we were left with our three main characters here........ and Kite-Man, who was immediately knocked out by the Riddler because just like me....... he couldn't take one more "Hell Yeah".  Let's jump into this issue and see how the whole thing ends.

Batman: The Dawnbreaker #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

In Blackest Knight

Written By: Sam Humphries

Art By: Ethan Van Sciver, Jason Wright, Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Oh man, it's the Green Lantern/Batman amalgam from the Dark Multiverse coming at us this week and from all the Dark Knights that we've seen working for Barbatos, this one is probably the one I was most curious about........... maybe the Drowned beats Dawnbreaker out though, just because of the whole woman angle.  Besides that though, let's find out what went wrong in this Batman's life that got him to go to the dark side and with that, work for Barbatos.  Let's check it out.

Bane: Conquest #6 Review and *SPOILERS*

Handle The Snake

Written By: Chuck Dixon

Art By: Graham Nolan, Gregory Wright, Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Bane, Bane, Bane.......... What the hell am I going to do with you?........ you know, besides read you of course.  Yeah, that's right, it's time to jump back into Bane: Conquest, where we previously saw our villain and his trio of goons compete against Dionysus to see who could take down a Russian Crime Family first, with Dionysus using his brains and Bane using his brawn....... Well, we didn't exactly get that and Dionysus was trying to get Bane killed the whole time, while the villain teamed up with Catwoman, who was also after information within the crime family stronghold.  Yeah, I don't know what's up with this series or if I still care about it, but I'm in this for the long haul........ Which I don't expect Dionysus to be after screwing Bane over previously.  Who knows though?  This is a weird ass Maxi-Series.  Let's jump into this and see where Bane's conquest takes him now.  Let's check it out.

Cyborg #17 Review and *SPOILERS*

There Is No Spoon

Written By: John Semper Jr.

Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Let's jump back into the Digiverse........... Well, just because we have to I guess because there's no real reason to want to go back there otherwise, especially after last issue when Cyborg learned that this strange reality that he was in was actually a digital world that was one of many within the Digiverse and because of this..... he was able to re-code reality as he saw fit.......... essentially, making him Neo from The Matrix.  So yeah, Vic has that going on for him so this shouldn't take too long to wrap up and stop the baddies because Cyborg can now do whatever he wants.  Let's jump into this issue and see how that works for him.  Let's check it out.

Batman: White Knight #1 Review

Black and White

Written by: Sean Murphy
Art by: Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 10, 2017

I have really turned the corner on Elseworlds since we started our site and podcast.  I used to have no time for them with all the "real" books going on, but now I look at them as a fun diversion from the regular grind.  Yea, that may sound a bit miserable, but welcome to my world!  So, how does Sean Murphy's Batman story with a twist measure up to other such stories?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: All-Star Batman #14

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Rafael Albuquerque, Jordie Bellaire and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 4, 2017

“The First Ally” finale! In the final issue of Scott Snyder’s high-octane run on ALL STAR BATMAN, he and superstar artist Rafael Albuquerque put Batman to the ultimate test! Faced with either losing his future as Batman or the person he loves most, the Dark Knight must decide which ultimate price he is willing to pay. 

FINAL ISSUE

PREVIEW: Batman White Knight #1

Written by: Sean Murphy
Art by: Sean Murphy and Matt Hollingsworth
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 10, 2017


In a world where Batman has gone too far, The Joker must save Gotham City.

He’s been called a maniac, a killer and the “Clown Prince of Crime” but “white knight”? Never. Until now…

Set in a world where the Joker is cured of his insanity and homicidal tendencies, The Joker, now known as “Jack,” sets about trying to right his wrongs. First he plans to reconcile with Harley Quinn, and then he’ll try to save the city from the one person who he thinks is truly Gotham City’s greatest villain: Batman!

Superstar writer and artist Sean Murphy (PUNK ROCK JESUS, THE WAKE) presents a seven-issue miniseries of a twisted Gotham City with a massive cast of heroes and villains that, at its heart, is a tragic story of a hero and a villain: Batman and The Joker. But which is the hero—and which the villain?

PREVIEW: Batman: The Dawnbreaker #1

Written By: Sam Humphries

Art By: Ethan Van Sciver, Jason Wright, Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

As the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL rock the DC Universe, the creatures of the Dark Multiverse stand ready to invade our world! How can even the World’s Greatest Heroes stop a horde of deadly beings that appear to be powerful, nightmare versions of familiar figures? Find out in these special tie-in issues!

PREVIEW: Cyborg #17

Written By: John Semper Jr.

Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 4, 2017

“SINGULARITY AFTERMATH” part four! Cyborg, Beast Boy and Variant battle an army of deadly mecha-humans in their epic and final cybernetic showdown with Anomaly that will seal the fate of mankind! Can Vic and his team save the planet, or will they fall victim to the viral contagion threatening to turn them into mindless automatons?