Barbarella #1 Review and Spoilers

Dangerous Women

Written by: Mike Carey
Art by: Kenan Yarar
Colours by: Mohan
Letters by: Crank!
Published by: Dynamite Entertainment
Price: $3.99

Mature Readers Only (no, really!)
I guess I’m fairly typical in that I know the character of Barbarella almost entirely because of the eponymous movie starring Jane Fonda and directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. While I’m aware of the character’s comic book roots, I’m a little ashamed to admit that this is the first time I’ve encountered her in her original format. I might be this comic book’s ideal reader, actually: aware of the character enough to be interested in picking the comic up; not sufficiently familiar with her previous comic book appearances to get worked up about whether her portrayal here is faithful or not. So, given that I don’t have much in the way of expectations, how does Mike Carey and Kenan Yarar’s first issue with the character hold up? Let’s find out…

The Wild Storm: Michael Cray #3 Review and Spoilers

Need For Speed

Written by: Bryan Hill with Warren Ellis
Art by: N Steven Harris and Dexter Vines
Colours: Dearbhla Kelly
Letters: Simon Bowland
Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017


The Michael Cray series has been an interesting one so far, but one for which my initial enthusiasm has waned. After a very promising first issue, the second disappointed on a number of levels, not least in its double deus (‘dei’) ex machina resolution to Cray’s confrontation with the Wild Storm universe’s Oliver Queen. The announcement of Barry Allen as the focus for this month’s issue raises the possibility that this 12 issue series will simply become a magical mystery tour of a dark ‘gritty’ version of the DC Universe, in which our favourite heroes are presented as twisted alternative characters that are simply grist for Michael Cray’s increasingly super-powered mill. I hope there’s something more going on myself, but we’ll have to see. In the meantime, here’s issue 3…

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 12/13/17

Balloon is the Word

Hey everyone! Another week of comics, another week of covers--but this week, there were some real humdingers! Covers, I mean...I don't speak to their contents. At least not in this weekly article! DC Comics pulled a dirty trick and use a device I love to cram this section full of covers: word balloons on the front! I can't get enough of 'em, they taste like Silver Age breakfast cereal. Let's see what five covers made the cut this week!

Mister Miracle #5 Review

I DON'T GET IT!!!

Written by: Tom King
Art by: Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017

I have not been the biggest fan of this series so far.  Because of that, I've been called awful names that question my intelligence and maybe they are deserved.  When I read this book, I feel like Josh Baskin in a meeting playing with a transformer that turns from a building into a robot...I don't get it!  I see all the accolades being thrown at this book and...I don't get it!  I read the tweets saying this is already a classic and...I don't get it!  I DON'T GET IT!!!

Please, somebody email me HERE and tell me what is going on in this series because I WANT TO GET IT!  I want to be included with everyone else and talk endlessly about how this book is changing the game and will be remembered forever.  Maybe this is the issue where Tom King actually does it for me.  Let's find out...

Supergirl #16 Review

Criss-Cross Applesauce

Written by: Steve Orlando and Jody Houser
Art by: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Michael Atiyeh and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017

I liked Supergirl last issue and I will give Jody Houser a lot of credit.  The issue was a bit more grounded and the dialogue was damn good.  So, I was happy to see the Orlando/Houser combo again this issue and couldn't wait to see if things got even better.  So, did they?  Let's find out...

Flash #36 Review

Mystery Men

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Howard Porter, Hi-Fi and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017


Flash has been a bit of tale of two...tales?  I have really enjoyed when Joshua Williamson lightens things up a bit, mostly with Barry and Wally.  However, when Williamson tries to turn this series into a horror book, I kind of check out.  It's a hundred percent personal taste thing, so if you are opposite with me, no problem at all.  So, what do we get this week in Flash?  Let's find out...

Justice League of America #20 Review

Hug It Out

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Hugo Petrus, Hi-Fi and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017

It's time to get our Justice League of America on!  Last issue, Steve Orlando left us with a decent cliffhanger that seemed to spell doom to the JLA and all the people stuck in the Sanctuary.  Does Prometheus win the day?  Let's find out...

New Super-Man #18 Review and **SPOILERS**

Man…or Super-Man?

Writer: Gene Luen Yang 

Pencils: Brent Peeples 

Inks: Scott Hanna & Richard Friend 

Colors: Hi-Fi 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Billy Tan, Haining & Gadson

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

This, I believe, was intended to be the final issue of New Super-Man—and it is, I believe, but it will be followed by New Super-Man and the Justice League of China in…February, I think? I should probably know this. Anyway, I expect this will wrap up the story with All-Yang and Kenan’s Qi and what-have-you, and pick back up with this terrific cast of characters in the new year! Take a look at how this whole mishegoss wraps up in my review of New Super-Man #18, just below!

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #34 Review and **SPOILERS**

Caught ‘Napping

Writer: Robert Vendetti

Breakdowns: Tom Derenick

Penciller & Inker: Jack Herbert

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover: Francis Manapul 

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM** 

There’s pretty much only one fair direction to go with this, now that we know the Controllers are the ones that have kidnapped the Guardians: explain who the Controllers are. I think this should have been done last issue, and said as much on the podcast, given that their culpability was advertised on the cover. But that didn’t happen, and if it doesn’t happen in this issue then it’s a mean trick to have dragged them out of mothballs. Find out what happens in my review of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #34, right here!

Ragman #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can't See

Writer: Ray Fawkes 

Artist: Inaki Miranda 

Colorist: Eva de la Cruz 

Letterer: Josh Reed 

Cover: Guillem March & Rain Beredo 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Once more again into the tangled and well-wrapped world of Ragman, which I imagine is sort of like being inside a house that’s been t.p.’ed. Last issue…basically one thing happened. Maybe more will happen in this issue! Have a look at my review of Ragman #3 and see!

Suicide Squad #31 Review and **SPOILERS**

Phun Times in the Phantom Zone

Story: Rob Williams 

Pencils: Barnaby Bagenda 

Inks: Jay Leisten 

Backup Story Artist: Wilfredo Torres 

Colors: Adriano Lucas 

Lettering: Pat Brosseau 

Cover Artists: Tony S. Daniel, Danny Miki & Tomeu Morey

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Red Wave? I’d rather listen to New Wave!

Okay, it’s a stupid introduction. Maybe my review of Suicide Squad #31 is better, huh?

Superwoman #17 Review and **SPOILERS**

Selfish Sacrifice

Writer: Perkins 

Artist: Federico Dallocchio 

Colors: Hi-Fi 

Letters: Josh Reed 

Cover: Ken Lashley 

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

What’s going on in this title again…oh yeah. Midnight. Some kind of techno-sorcerer-black hole of computer code made physical for…reasons. This feels like the final arc of the series, but it doesn’t feel like the last issue, yet. Darn my luck. Anyhoo, do your Super-duty and read my review of Superwoman #17, just below!

Bug! The Adventures of Forager #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

Busting Your Bugs Backwards

Storytellers: Lee Allred & Michael Allred 

Colorist: Laura Allred 

Letterer: Nate Peikos of Blambot® 

Cover: Michael & Laura Allred 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Here it is folks, the final issue of this miniseries—and it’s a good thing, since I’ve worn a permanent groove at the top of my skull from all of the head-scratching it’s caused. But I believe that a strong finish will define a story, and make it memorable if it rectifies the disappointments found along the way. Will this be that kind of story? You’ll have to check out my review of Bug! The Adventures of Forager #16 to find out!

Action Comics #993 Review and *SPOILERS*

Krypton Saved?

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Dan Jurgens, Joe Prado, Cam Smith, Hi-Fi, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: December 13, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Superman's still reeling from the fact that Mr. Oz is his father Jor-El and because of that, he's determined to get to the bottom of how all of this is possible.  Too bad that our Man of Steel has decided that using the Cosmic Treadmill and going back to right before Krypton's destruction is the best way to do that because right as he left, Booster Gold showed up to stop him because whatever he was about to do was going to destroy the timeline as we knew it.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Booster can save the day and make sure that the world and our heroes keeps going the way we've always known it to.  Let's check it out.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #17 Review and *SPOILERS*

Getting To The Core Of The Matter

Written By: Scott Lobdell

Art By: Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini, Taylor Esposito

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 13, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

To catch everyone up, we have a Smarty-Pants Bizarro on our hands who is trying to systematically take out all crime in Gotham and beyond, but along the line things have gotten a little crazy, where we saw our Smarty-Pants Bizarro kidnapped by the Gotham Knights and then him and the Outlaws being given over to Amanda Waller.  All of this somehow leads to the Outlaws working with the Suicide Squad so that they can shut down a subterranean power source that is bound to rupture and destroy the world.  Best part about all of this is, the power source is to a facility that was once run by Harvest and his organization NOWHERE and with that in mind, I hope we get some answers to what has happened to Kon-El Superboy and possibly find out why Tim Drake doesn't remember him in Detective Comics............. Yeah, that's asking a lot.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Titans #18 Review and *SPOILERS*

No Fate But What We Make

Written By: Dan Abnett 

Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 13, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It would appear that everything we've read from Titans Hunt up has led to here, you know with Mister Twister being the minion of what seems to be the future Donna Troy, Troia, but sadly, the journey hasn't been all that appealing since it hasn't really made all that much sense........ mostly because of Titans Hunt.  That being said though, let me fill you in on what's gone down.  Wally West has died because he stressed his heart out too much, Troia was brought through a doorway to the future by unlocking it with emotional pain and now she's trying to convince Donna Troy to become her now instead of later so that she can save herself the pain of the world letting her down.  Let's jump into this issue and see how it all ends.  Let's check it out.

Wonder Woman #36 Review and *SPOILERS*

Daddy's Home

Written By: James Robinson

Art By: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Sean Parsons, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Saida Temofonte

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: December 13, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I don't know why it's taken me so long to realize this, but it seems that James Robinson is trying to pull off what Greg Rucka was doing with his run on Wonder Woman in Rebirth and giving us a present story and a past story ever other issue and where it seemed to work a bit for Rucka, here it just comes off infuriating because it just puts the breaks on the momentum of the story, not to mention it seems that we just get to see what was talked about in the issue that came before it, which feels like a bit of a waste.  So yeah, this style of writing isn't working so well and in the previous issue we saw Jason's upbringing to the point where he was about to fight some fish men called the Deep Six.......... none of that matters here though so let's get back to the main story where Jason has betrayed Wonder Woman to Grail.  Let's check it out.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #17 Review and *SPOILERS*

League of Extraordinary Women

Written By: Julie Benson, Shawna Benson

Art By: Roge Antonio, Marcelo Maiolo, Dezi Sienty

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 13, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that the Daughters of Gotham have significantly taken out the population of men in Gotham, it's time for the Birds of Prey, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Gotham Girl, Batwoman, Orphan, Spoiler, Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman to find a cure for the virus and take this man-hating group down.  Let's jump into this issue and find out what's what about the ringleader of the Daughters of Gotham, Patient Zero and see if Batgirl, Batwoman and Harley Quinn can escape her grasp.  Let's check it out.

Detective Comics #970 Review

Don't Walk Away Mad

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by:Joe Bennett, Salvador Regla, Ricardo Jaime, Marcio Loerzer and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017

It's time for Detective Comics and I want to get excited for Tim Drake's return, but this book seems to be stuck in neutral.  I may be the only one, but the Victim Syndicate wasn't a favorite of mine the first time around and getting them back doesn't stoke my fire in any way possible.  However, I will give Tynion the benefit of the doubt and hope he can make me suddenly care about them.  Did he do just that this week?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Detective Comics #970

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by:Joe Bennett, Salvador Regla, Ricardo Jaime, Marcio Loerzer and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017

“Fall of the Batmen” part two! Spoiler and the team still have unfinished business to resolve...and unfortunately for everyone, the Victim Syndicate feels the same way!

PREVIEW: Flash #36

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Howard Porter, Hi-Fi and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 13, 2017

“A Cold Day in Hell” part one! When one of The Flash’s Rogues is murdered inside Iron Heights prison, Barry Allen throws himself deep into the case, still reeling from the turmoil of his personal life! But when the clues begin to reveal an even greater conspiracy at work, The Flash soon discovers Iron Heights’ deadliest secret… 

PREVIEW: Bug! The Adventures of Forager #6

Squash

Storytellers: Lee Allred & Michael Allred 

Colorist: Laura Allred 

Letterer: Nate Peikos of Blambot® 

Cover: Michael & Laura Allred 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

This is it: part six of “The Domino Effect”! Chagra promised he wouldn’t alter reality until Forager returned to New Genesis, but did anyone actually believe him? Seems our beloved Bug might have. Luckily he’s got a savvy teddy bear and ghost girl around to keep him focused, or else he might fall apart like a house of cards!

This is it, the conclusion of this series! Hopefully this one will explain what the heck was going on. Have a gander at some preview pages, right here!

PREVIEW: Superwoman #17

Meet Me at Midnight

Writer: Perkins 

Artist: Federico Dallocchio 

Colors: Hi-Fi 

Letters: Josh Reed 

Cover: Ken Lashley 

Variant Cover: Emanuela Luppacchino 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

“THE MIDNIGHT HOUR” part three! An inextricable link between Superwoman and the villainous Midnight may be the only hope in stopping the destruction of Metropolis. Raging with the power to swallow cities or entire planets into the black hole inside her, Midnight looms for Superwoman. Can she make it to dawn?

I sure hope we figure some of this out in the current issue! Have a gander at some preview pages below, and maybe there will be a clue!

PREVIEW: Suicide Squad #31

Make Way for Red Wave

Story: Rob Williams 

Pencils: Barnaby Bagenda 

Inks: Jay Leisten 

Backup Story Artist: Wilfredo Torres 

Colors: Adriano Lucas 

Lettering: Pat Brosseau 

Cover Artists: Tony S. Daniel, Danny Miki & Tomeu Morey 

Variant Cover: Whilce Portacio & Alex Sinclair 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

“The Secret History of Task Force X” part five! As the Suicide Squad continues to fight a war on two fronts, Harley Quinn is faced with an impossible choice—bring her former teammate Rick Flag back from the Phantom Zone…or send the monstrous Red Wave beast into oblivion. Meanwhile, Deadshot and company discover the identity of the person who started this war—and the truth is too shocking to believe!

Looks like the stuff that happened last issue is still happening in this one! Peep some preview pages, right here!

PREVIEW: Ragman #3

Let it Be Etrigan

Writer: Ray Fawkes 

Artist: Inaki Miranda 

Colorist: Eva de la Cruz 

Letterer: Josh Reed 

Cover: Guillem March & Rain Beredo 

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017
 

As Rory learns how to use the Suit of Souls, he hits the streets of Gotham City, finding and interrogating demonic fiends that continue to crawl into the city. With every demon he defeats, Ragman begins to build a name for himself, and unseen enemies and allies are taking notice. But when Ragman finds himself fighting a former ally, he must turn to the help of a different kind of demon…Etrigan!

Hey, it's Etrigan! You know what question I always have next: will he be rhyming? Maybe we can find out by looking at some preview pages, right here!

PREVIEW: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #34

Don't Hog the Controllers

Writer: Robert Vendetti 

Breakdowns: Tom Derenick 

Penciller & Inker: Jack Herbert 

Colorist: Jason Wright 

Letterer: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Francis Manapul 

Variant Cover: Barry Kitson and Hi-Fi 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: December 13, 2017

“TWILIGHT OF THE GUARDIANS” part two! Captured by their oldest foes, the Controllers, the remaining Guardians of the Universe fight for their lives as Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner race across the cosmos to rescue them. But this Green Lantern strike team may not uncover the clues in time to save their mentors from a deranged plan that would leave the Controllers in charge of the universe!

Does the solicit mean that the Controllers...would be in control?! Perish the thought! And have a look at some preview pages right here!