The Adventures of Superman #484 (1991) - "Blackout" Review

Writers: Dan Janke, Jerry Ordway

Artists: Tom Grummett, Doug Hazelwood
Cover Price: $1.00

Release Date: September 24, 1991

http://www.TheWineStalker.net

https://www.youtube.com/c/JoeyCasco

With all of these amnesia stories that we're seeing in DC right now with Nightwing, Aquaman, and Heroes in Crisis, it's a perfect time to go back to the amnesia story that I remember most (get it?) as a kid. This is when Superman lost his memory.

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 121 - Limited Collectors Edition #C24 (1973)

Rudolph the Weaponized Reindeer

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! In this episode, workshop janitors Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) read a seasonal favorite enjoyed for generations: DC Comics' Limited Collectors Edition #C-24 from 1973, aka New Giant Adventures of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Sy Reit and Rube Grossman! After some biographical information about our creators, and a look at how these oversized treasury editions came to be in the first place, our reindeer groomers read all three of the Rudolph stories in the book, following each twist and turn, no matter how inane. After a break, they talk about the rest of the Limited Collectors Edition line, including some titles that made it into other formats entirely! It's an episode sure to chase the seasonal doldrums away, don't miss it!

Robin Annual #1 (1992) - "The Anarky Ultimatum" Review

Writers: Alan Grant, John Wagner
Artists: Tom Lyle, Scott Hanna
Release Date: July 21, 1992
Cover Price: $2.50

Review by: Joey Casco

Please go check out Joey's awesome site TheWineStalker.net

It's time for more 90's Tim Drake goodness! This is not only Robin Annual #1 from 1992, but it's also Part 12 of the "Eclipso: The Darkness Within" series, which retconned Eclipso's story of being the dark half of Bruce Gordon and changed it to a body-possessing vengeance demon.  In this issue, Anarky has collected five shards of the "Heart of Darkness" diamond that contains Eclipso and can be used to summon him, and he plans on using it for his anti-authoritarian agenda and, of all things, planet conservation. It's up to Batman and Robin to stop Anarky from releasing Eclipso and endangering citizens!

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Ep 207: DC Comics, Batman, Odor-X and Hauling Stunk

Need more Podcasts?  Check out our Patreon (www.patreon.com/weirdscience) and for as little as $1 a month, you can help support the podcast and get a bunch of shows! This Week's Patreon Spotlight: Catwoman #6 and Freedom Fighters #1

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week: December 19, 2018

Great Comic Book Covers Have No Deadline

I get around, round, get around, I get around, I get around, round, get around, I get around, I get around, round, get around, I get around, I get around, round, get around, I get around to it eventually.

Damage #12 Review

Superman Shuns Damage

Writer: Robert Venditti
Art Team: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, Hi-Fi, Tom Napolitano
DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 13, 2018

Damage's previous issue featured a big clash with some version of the Justice League. This eventually forced the "B Team" to call in the big guns, despite Guy Gardner's best wishes of course, so as the issue concluded Superman arrived on the scene. For any other comic book that would most likely be an exciting thing to look forward to, however, this is customary for Damage at this point, making the book all too predictable at times.  Maybe this will be different though since Damage has finally come up against someone who's a match for his strength, let's find out.

Harley Quinn #56 Review and **SPOILERS**

#EyerollGate

Guest Writer: Mark Russell 

Guest Artist: Mirka Andolfo 

Colors: Arif Prianto 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

You know, Harley Quinn is not a bad character to use for social commentary. She’s arguably one of the more “regular” figures in comic books, being that her costume consists of cut-off jeans and shoulder pads. She also deals with day-to-day stuff like rent and friendships, and other things many DC Comics intellectual properties don’t bother with. So if you’re going to comment on the human condition, Harley Quinn is a good facsimile of a human to use. But then…the commentary itself has to be valid as well. Does that happen in this issue? I’m not sure…but I bet my review of Harley Quinn #56 will let us know!

Aquaman #43 Review and **SPOILERS**

Aquawho Now?

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick 

Penciller: Robson Rocha 

Inker: Daniel Henriques 

Colorist: Sunny Gho 

Letterer: Clayton Cowles 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Well, how about that! A new creative team on Aquaman, including one of the writers recently poached from Marvel. I won’t pretend to be very familiar with Kelly Sue DeConnick’s work, I’ve read a few issues of Captain Marvel and I read the first issue of Bitch Planet. But I definitely welcome a sea change on this series! So let’s hop right into my review of Aquaman #43, and see how it is!

Batman: Kings of Fear #5 Review

Fear This

Writer: Scott Peterson
Artist: Kelley Jones
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I was into Kings of Fear for a couple of issues, but I have been waiting for something to grab me since.  I love Kelley Jones' art but little else that we've been getting each month.  Does this penultimate issue turn things around?  Let's find out...

Lucifer #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

The Bloody Book

Written By: Dan Watters
Illustrated By: Max Fiumara & Sebastian Fiumara
Colors By: Dave McCaig
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

After reading the first two issues of Lucifer... twice... I'm woefully lost with just what in the hell I'd just experienced.

Hopefully it was enough to prep me for the twenty-odd pages we're about to discuss... I doubt it though!

Nightwing #55 Review

It's A Gas, Gas, Gas

Written By: Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza

Art By: Chris Mooneyham, Garry Brown, Hi-Fi, Andworld Designs

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 19, 2018

The saga of Ric Grayson continues with this issue, where our former hero will probably talk about not caring about being a hero in his life before brain damage and while that sounds like a sad ass thing........ I'm kind of digging it.  Yeah, you have your problems with always having to repeat what came before so new readers can follow along, but this slow burn story about Scarecrow coming to town to call out Nightwing, while three police officers and a firefighter take on the Nightwing persona themselves is actually kind of intriguing and I'm having a fun time with this new status quo for not only our hero, but for Bludhaven as well.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Scarecrow makes his move now that Ric Grayson has convinced him that fear itself isn't as scary as no fear.  Let's check it out.

Justice League #14 Review

What a Dump!

Writer: James Tynion IVArtist: Jim Cheung
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Let's take a trip to "Hawkworld" in part one of a new Totality-related storyline! Martian Manhunter, John Stewart and Hawkgirl avoided "Drowned Earth" with a detour to Thanagar-Prime: J'onn looks to tap into the ancient Martian mental database, GL struggles while practicing his new UV powers, and Kendra searches for answers about her connection to the Totality.

Catwoman #6 Review

Who Are You? Who Who...Who Who

Writer: Joelle Jones
Artist: Joelle Jones
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Selina's forced into a seriously sinister Sopranos-style sit-down! While the cops continue to hunt her for a murder she didn't commit, Catwoman's forced to take a meeting with secretive crime boss Mrs. Creel. Here's the pitch: work for us or die! Selina counters with some blackmail of her own, but the offer fails to blow away Creel and her meta-crew. That leads to a breakneck chase that drives Catwoman right into the crosshairs of the local authorities.

Teen Titans #25 Review and **SPOILERS**

Un-Chained Melody

Writer: Adam Glass
Guest Penciller: Robson Rocha
Guest Inker: Daniel Henriques
Guest Colorist: Sunny Gho
Letters: Rob Leigh
Back-Up Pencils: Max Dunbar
Back-Up Colors: Ivan Plascencia
Cover Price: $3.99 
On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

Looks like we're headed into character-specific territory... I guess we can call this arc "Tales of the Teen Titans" or perhaps "Teen Titans Spotlight".

Whatever we're gonna call it, I'm cautiously optimistic that we're going to come out the other end with a much better appreciation of our Titanic Newbies.

Freedom Fighters #1 Review

The Day America Died

Written By: Robert Venditti

Art By: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas, Deron Bennett

Cover Price: $3.99 

Release Date: December 19, 2018

It's time to kick some Ratzi ass and who better than the Freedom Fighters to get the job done?  Yeah, we've got a new Maxi-series being thrown at us with this one and while I would much rather have some JSA action, Earth X will have to do for now as Robert Venditti gives us the info on what happened to the original Freedom Fighters and who will take up their mantel to make sure that America never dies.  Let's jump into this issue and see what's what.  Let's check it out.

Batman #61 Review

The Ones You Remember

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Travis Moore
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

It's back to Master Bruce and while DC wanted to claim that his original appearance in Batman #38 was a horror masterpiece, I wasn't too impressed.  It felt like a Hush 2.0 story and if you held a gun to my head right now, I wouldn't be able to tell you the kids name.  It's Matthew Warner, by the way, and we are back with the kid who wanted to be Bruce Wayne because...well, because Tom King is trying his hardest to convince us all that everything before issue #50 was all part of a bigger story...that he promised after so many people lost their shit after the non-wedding.  So, does it all wrap together and make sense or does it fall apart like a banana dropping clues?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn #56

Quinnsights Into the Human Condition

Guest Writer: Mark Russell 

Guest Artist: Mirka Andolfo 

Colors: Arif Prianto 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Guillem March & Tomeu Morey 

Editor: Alex Antone 

Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

It’s Harley Quinn—crazy cat lady! Seems one of Harley’s tenants used to be a small-time, cat-themed crook, but now is just a lonely retiree hoarding felines in his apartment. Gross! Harley takes it upon herself to find homes for the “cat burglars,” but in trying to get them adopted, she runs afoul of the local pet store, “Men O’Paws.” But who’s gonna feed the kitties while Harley fights this turf war? And more importantly, who’ll clean their litter box?

Oh...Mark Russell wrote this one? Uh...that's...cool.... Have your fill of some preview pages, posted below! 

PREVIEW: Aquaman #43

Like a Fish Out of Water

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick 

Penciller: Robson Rocha 

Inker: Daniel Henriques 

Colorist: Sunny Gho 

Letterer: Clayton Cowles 

Cover: Rocha, Henriques & Gho 

Variant Cover: Nicola Scott & Annette Kwok 

Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 

Editor: Alex Antone 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

The tides turn for the Sea King with a new creative team! Star scribe Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel, Pretty Deadly) and red-hot artist Robson Rocha (TEEN TITANS, SUPERGIRL) take the rudder to steer Aquaman into uncharted waters. In the wake of “Drowned Earth,” an amnesiac Arthur washes ashore on a remote island, and ends up being cared for by a young woman named Caille, who’s just a little TOO curious for comfort. And as a lifetime of horror movies has taught us, there’s something strange going on in this island village. Aquaman needs to come to his senses quickly...or he might wind up sleeping with the fishes instead of chatting with them.

Well, a new day has dawned for Aquaman! Which is good news, since last time we saw him, he flew into the gullet of a Kraken and died. Have a gander at some preview pages, hah?? 

PREVIEW: Nightwing #55

Written By: Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza

Art By: Chris Mooneyham, Garry Brown, Hi-Fi, Andworld Designs

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 19, 2018

The repercussions of the cataclysmic events of BATMAN #55 continue as a scarred Dick Grayson has given up his vigilante persona in favor a normal existence. A new job, new friends, new life—all are compromised when a safehouse full of old Nightwing gear falls into the wrong hands. Confronted with a past he’s worked so desperately to escape, will Dick Grayson answer the challenge by becoming Nightwing…or something else? The newest chapter in the evolution of Dick Grayson reaches its next level!

PREVIEW: Justice League #14

Writer: James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder

Artist: Jim Cheung
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Let's take a trip to "Hawkworld" in part one of a new Totality-related storyline! Martian Manhunter, John Stewart and Hawkgirl avoided "Drowned Earth" with a detour to Thanagar-Prime: J'onn looks to tap into the ancient Martian mental database, GL struggles while practicing his new UV powers, and Kendra searches for answers about her connection to the Totality.

PREVIEW: Lucifer #3

It Ain't Easy Being the Prince of Darkness

Written By: Dan Watters
Illustrated By: Max Fiumara & Sebastian Fiumara
Colors By: Dave McCaig
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover By: Kyle Hotz & Dean White
Edited By: Amedeo Turturro & Molly Mahan
Assistant Editor: Maggie Howell
Executive Editor: Mark Doyle
Cover Price: $4.99
On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

Lucifer is in misery. No longer able to heal his broken body, escape seems further away than ever...until hope arrives in the form of a mad poet. Meanwhile: a tome of prophecy is found among the cookbooks, and a finger or two are lost down the side of the couch.

Gosh, when Satan is sad, that means everything's messed up. Have a look at some preview pages, why not? 

PREVIEW: Damage #12

Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Aaron Lopresti
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $2.99


Will Damage earn his spot as the world's strongest hero-or will he be branded a villain forever? It's Damage versus the Justice League, and it'll take more than brute strength to win the day. Even with an unstoppable alter ego, Ethan's gotta use both brains and brawn to have a hope against the League, because they've got a knock-'em-dead trick up their sleeve as a nuclear option. The first year of Damage's story comes to an end-and a new chapter begins! And how does Deadman fit into the picture?

PREVIEW: Freedom Fighters #1

Written By: Robert Venditti

Art By: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas, Deron Bennett

Cover Price: $3.99 
Release Date: December 19, 2018

Line up for this all-new maxiseries set on Earth X, where the Nazis won World War II! Twenty years after invading and occupying America, Germany wiped out all metahuman resistance, including the original Freedom Fighters.


Fast-forward to the present day, and a new team of Freedom Fighters emerges to challenge the Nazi occupation once again. But if they’re to have any chance of victory, they’re going to need Uncle Sam—who disappeared after his original team was killed. The 12-part epic “Death of a Nation” storyline kicks off here!

PREVIEW: Teen Titans #25

Never Too Much of Crush

Writer: Adam Glass
Guest Penciller: Robson Rocha
Guest Inker: Daniel Henriques
Guest Colorist: Sunny Gho
Cover: Rocha, Henriques & Gho
Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea
Editor: Alex Antone
Group Editor: Brian Cunningham
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: December 19, 2018

Learn the secret origin of Crush, daughter of Lobo! When Crush drags Djinn along on a road trip to find an important item from her past, the two get into hijinks that’d make Thelma and Louise jealous. Crush is on the hunt for Obelus, the mysterious alien chain that once protected her as a child, but here’s the kicker—it’s in the possession of a man named Ezekiel, who killed Crush’s adoptive human parents! Plus, in the backup story, learn how Roundhouse got home from space in TEEN TITANS #21!

Say, I wouldn't mind knowing Crush's secret origin, myself! Maybe you can find a little if you scan the preview pages, below! 

PREVIEW: Catwoman #6

Writer: Joelle Jones

Artist: Joelle Jones
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Selina's forced into a seriously sinister Sopranos-style sit-down! While the cops continue to hunt her for a murder she didn't commit, Catwoman's forced to take a meeting with secretive crime boss Mrs. Creel. Here's the pitch: work for us or die! Selina counters with some blackmail of her own, but the offer fails to blow away Creel and her meta-crew. That leads to a breakneck chase that drives Catwoman right into the crosshairs of the local authorities.

PREVIEW: Batman: Kings of Fear #5

Writer: Scott Peterson

Artist: Kelley Jones
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: December 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Scarecrow's endgame is in sight! He has created a world without Batman for the Caped Crusader to be tortured by. It's a world controlled by crime, where fear always wins!