DC’s Beach Blanket Bad Guys Summer Special #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

I’m Picking Up Hood Vibrations

Creators: See Below 

Cover Price: $9.99 

On Sale Date: July 25, 2018

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

Here we are, in the thick of summer (in the Northern Hemisphere, that is), and so, of course, our thoughts turn to supervillains. How have they been handling their summer vacations? Wonder no more, when you read my review of the anthology DC’s Beach Blanket Bad Guys Summer Special #1, perfect for poolside or a day at the beach!

Explain It!

The Joker and Bizarro in “Worst Finest" 
Writer: Lee Bermejo
Artist: Francesco Mattino
Letters: Tom Napolitano

The characters here liken to versions seen in DC’s animated Timm-verse, and the artwork looks to be painstakingly rendered in the style of acrylic paints. The story, however, is dull, involving the Joker luring Bizarro to a showdown at an amusement park because he hates the competition. Silly stuff.

4/10

Lex Luthor in “Help"
Writer: Jeff Loveness
Artist: David Williams
Colors: Steve Buccellato
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual

This Lex Luthor also likens to the version seen on the animated Adventures of Superman and Justice League Unlimited. He gets a flat on the road and calls his assistant Mercy for help, but before she shows up, a trucker with a Superman tattoo arrives and lends a hand. Luthor asks why he has that symbol tattooed, and the man goes into a personal story that, of course, makes Luthor furious.

6/10

Mr. Freeze in “Close Shave” 
Writer: Paul Dini
Art and Colors: John Paul Leon
Letters: Deron Bennett

Mister Freeze terrorizes Gotham with a giant robot, and finds a mother and daughter running an unlicensed Mister Freeze ice cream truck. He’s about to get litigious, when he notices that the pair are being muscled by a bigger ice cream truck concern. So Freeze secures the corner for the mom and daughter and saunters off.

6/10

The Cheetah in “False Idols” 
Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: Amancay Nahuelpan
Colors: June Chung
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Archaeologist Pallas Soto seeks out Barbara “Minerva” Cheetah to share in her feline powers. Cheetah chases Pallas away, and, reminiscing on a life of conflict with Wonder Woman—while fighting Wonder Woman—muses that the gift of her powers is more of a curse.

5.5/10

Black Manta in “Icy Embrace” 
Writers: Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko
Artist: Gabriel Hardman
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Letters: Deron Bennett

Black Manta finances an expedition to find some recently-uncovered treasure in the frozen North, a blade made of ice from the time of Ancient Atlantis. When he gets it, he must choose between splitting with the knife, or saving the life of a teammate. Choosing the latter, his ice knife melts in the sun, and Black Manta regrets his decision.

6.5/10

Giganta in “Giganta Strong” 
Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Max Raynor
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Giganta gets revenge on some misogynists at a carnival by getting big and kicking their asses.

4/10

Gorilla Grodd in “Cruel Summer” 
Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Minkyu Jung
Colors: John Kalisz
Letters: Tom Napolitano

Grodd slays an entire village of gorillas during their rainy season celebration. When Flash asks him why, Grodd thinks back to his crummy childhood, then slashes Barry’s chest, thinking “mercy is for the weak.”

4.5/10

Deathstroke in “Dog Days of Summer” 
Writer: Shea Fontana
Artist: Carlos D’Anda
Colors: Luis Guerrero
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual

A little girl hires Deathstroke to kill her abusive dad, then when the time comes, asks to be the one to pull the trigger. Turns out she’s just killing her neighbor who was mean to her dog. She’s able to pay Deathstroke using some cash she pilfered from her neighbor’s safe, which is good enough for him.

6/10

The Young Penguin in “Perfect Gentleman” 
Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith
Artist: Laura Braga
Colors: Arif Prianto
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Young Oswald Cobblepot seeks the affection of Veronica, so formerly fat kid Tony agrees to help him get into shape and build his confidence. When Tony goes to Veronica to talk Ozzie up, the Penguin-to-be spies this and immolates Tony on the spot. Later, he tries to hit on Veronica at the funeral and she slaps him. Nothing else to do but become the Penguin!

4.5/10

The Crime Syndicate in “Independence” 
Writers: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Pencils: Giueseppe Camuncoli
Inks: Cam Smith
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Clayton Cowles

Superwoman tries taking over the Crime Syndicate with some sleight-of-hand, but Owlman is one step ahead of her and takes it over himself. I was personally glad to see these characters in a story again, though the story is mediocre.

4.5/10

Bits and Pieces:

As expected, it's a mixed bag of mostly fun stories that should have little effect. Ten bucks is a bit much for this; I would have liked it a bit more at eight dollars. Nice batch of visuals, though, for your money.

6.4/10