The Ruff and Reddy Show #4 Review and Spoilers

Loose and Lousy

Written by: Howard Chaykin
Art by: Mac Rey
Letters by: Ken Bruzenak
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018


Another month, another issue of The Ruff and Reddy Show, a comic book whose very existence continues to baffle and bemuse me. Last issue saw the titular pair do the dirty on their agent, Pamela, and take up the offer of industry veteran Aldo "Crafty" Schrafft. Will this issue be as predictable as it is beautiful (Mac Rey's art continues to be the one shining point of the series)? There's only one way to find out, doncha know? And here it is…

Gasolina #5 Review

Quit buggin' me Junior

Written by: Sean Mackiewicz

Art by: Niko Walter
Colors by: Matt Lopes
Publisher: Image
Review by: Andrew McAvoy

Yeehaw! This is the issue where we hit lift off. Up until now Randy and Amalia's role in events and the threat of Los Queridos has been depicted through a set of scenes all hinting at the bigger picture. Although this issue doesn't lift the veil completely, by the end of the issue the reader has a much firmer feel for the terrain of this series.

Postal #25 Review

The Gates of Eden

Written by: Bryan Hill
Art by: Isaac Goodhart
Colors by: K Michael Russell
Published by: Image Comics (Top Cow)
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy

Have to confess, I haven't read Postal before, but I can tell you ladies and gents, it is a book that I will be reading again! I have no idea of the background to this issue beyond the brief description on the Image website which is as follows, "The war for Eden is over, but Laura faces the most important choice of her life: What to do with her son Mark's future". Believe me this is enough and this issue proved to be a perfect jumping on point, lets dive in!

Dissonance #1 Review

Cognitive Dissonance

Created by: Melita Curphy
Written by: Singgih Nugropho and Ryan Cady
Art by: Sami Basri
Colors by: Sakti Yuwono
Publisher: Image
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy

Image's latest title Dissonance is a tale of an alternate world where Earth is populated with powerful human-spirit hybrids called Fantasmen as part of a long established pact with mankind. Let's see what sort of a start this new series got off to...

Flash: The Elongated Knight Rises - Review and **SPOILERS**

Written By: Sterling Gagtes and Thomas Pound

Directed By: Alexandra La Roche

First Aired: January 23, 2018

Imaginary Fiends #3 Review and ***SPOILERS***

The Little Cookie Dough Cowboy

Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Stephan Molnar, Quinton Winter, and Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018

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

So far, this series has provided a great balance of fun story-telling and creepy character work. Tim Seeley, along with Stephan Molnar's art and Quinton Winter's colors, have crafted an interesting book that looks great as well. After the slightly gross cliffhanger of the last issue, I'm excited to see where Seeley takes Melba Li, Agent Crockett, and the IMP Polly Peachpit from here. I'd also like to see more of what is going on with Cameron and Charlie Chokecherry as well, so let's see if this issue keeps chugging along or goes flying clean off the rails. Hopefully a little bit of both.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 1/24

Covers, Covered

Sorry folks! I don't think I've done this list for a couple of weeks now, but I have a very good excuse: I forgot. Also, I was actually busy one of those weeks. I'll leave it to you to find out which one! Meanwhile, we've got a list of the five best covers coming from DC Comics this week!

Black Lightning: Lawanda: The Book of Hope - Review and **SPOILERS**

Written By: Oz Scott

Directed By: Salim Akil & Charles Holland

First Aired: January 23, 2018

The Wild Storm #11 - Review and Spoilers

About To Be Fixing To Start To Begin To Commence To…

Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: John Davis-Hunt
Colours by: Steve Bucellato
Letters by: Simon Bowland
Published by: DC Comics
Price: $3.99

Warren Ellis might just be the biggest tease in comics right now. With the delicacy and lightness of touch of the most exotic of dancers, he has unpeeled the various layers of the Wild Storm universe, each revelation accompanied by narrative moves of pulse-quickening, breath-taking skill, enabled by the extraordinary art of Jon Davis-Hunt. There is, of course, a fine line between teasing and frustrating. It's a subjective judgment and individuals' mileage varies considerably with this sort of thing. Some readers are undoubtedly frustrated with this series' apparent reluctance to bring the building tension between IO and Skywatch to a climax and, if they were expecting things to start here, they'll be disappointed. For, yes, this is another issue that, despite its somewhat misleading cover, is concerned principally with set-up and background.

Teen Titans #16 Review and **SPOILERS**

Young People Stuff

Teen Titans #16
"Alone Against the World"
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciller: Tom Derenick
Inker: Trevor Scott
Colorist: Jim Charalampidis
Letterer: Corey Breen
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

What's this?  Another issue of Teen Titans not being done by the usual creative team?  Does this mean I might go two issues in a row saying nice things about this book?

Well, let's not throw any babies in the air just yet... 

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #37 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Who’s House? Zod’s House!

Writer: Robert Vendetti

Penciller: Rafa Sandoval 

Inker: Jordi Tarragona 

Colorist: Tomeu Morey 

Letterer: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Sandoval, Tarragona, Morey

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Green Lanterns vs. Kryptonians, huh? The Corps should be able to handle them, unless Vendetti begs to differ. Let’s take a look at my review of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #37 and find out how it goes!

Flash #39 Review

War is Coming!

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Carmine De Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia, and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018

While I wasn't to keen on the Flash book after it's first arc of Rebirth, Joshua Williamson is really turning it around.  Sure, having the Rogues make another appearance certainly didn't hurt, but it's more the sense of fun that has made me a fan once again.  Finally, Williamson seems to be ready to leave sadsack Barry behind and make the Fastest Man Alive fun to read again.  Now we get Grodd?!?!  That has to be awesome, right?  Let's find out...

Suicide Squad #34 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Our Secret Weapon, the Nebbish

Writer: Si Spurrier

Penciller: Fernando Pasarin 

Inker: Sean Parsons 

Colors: Blond 

Lettering: Pat Brosseau 

Cover: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Adriano Lucas

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Now here’s a feeling I haven’t had about Suicide Squad in a little while: actually anticipating what this issue will bring! I thought the last issue was a little drawn out, but I was intrigued by this expendable Juan character, and I’d like to see how it goes for him. That’s what we call serialized storytelling! Find out what I thought of Suicide Squad #34, below!

Nightwing: The New Order #6 Review

Rushed

Written by: Kyle Higgins
Art by: Trevor McCarthy, Dean White, and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018

I have really enjoyed this book and while I am excited to see how it ends, I don't want it to be finished!  Maybe we will all get lucky and DC will let Kyle Higgins return to this alt-future, but I'm not holding my breath.  Really, I'm not...I'm not very good at that and tend to pass out easily.  Anywho, was the ending all that I wanted it to be and justifies me giving Higgins my Writer of the Year for 2017?  Let's find out...

Raven: Daughter of Darkness #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

Azure Azar?

Raven: Daughter of Darkness #1
"The Girl With the Anime Eyes, Part One: Under the Hood"
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Pop Mhan
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

Hey, it's Raven... and she's back with another limited series!  Ooh, I wonder if it's going to be about how she's the daughter or Trigon the Terrible?!  Okay, okay... we all know it will be... so let's just get right to it.

Batgirl #19 Review and **SPOILERS**

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You Don't Need a Weatherman

Writer: Hope Larson 

Pencils: Chris Wildgoose 

Inks: Jose Marzan Jr. 

Colors: Mat Lopes 

Letters: Deron Bennett 

Main Cover: Dan Mora 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Hey, Batgirl and the Penguin hanging out together? We’ve seen it. Heck, they played pool together! I bet they’ll make a great team, and you can find out in my review of Batgirl #19, right here!

Justice League of America #23 Review

Nightmares and Dreams

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Neil Edwards, Daniel Henriques, Andy Owens, Hi-Fi and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018


It's no secret that I haven't really liked this series since it started.  Actually, let me rephrase that...I hate this book!  In a landscape where I am trying to grab onto any Justice League life preserver, I would rather sink than reach for this book.  Steve Orlando seems to be taking most of his time thinking of all the cool characters he can add (without asking the proper people), but once they enter the book, the awful dialogue and uninteresting situations they find themselves in bring the party to a screeching halt.  Just look at Prometheus.  He used to be famous for taking down the League himself and here he is taken down by a woman with a taser.  So, forgive me if I didn't get excited when the Queen of Fables revealed herself to be the big bad that has been hounding the JLA for so long.  However, I will give this issue the clean slate attention it deserves and hope it changes my mind on this series as a whole.  Did it?  Let's find out...

Detective Comics #973 Review

The Beginning of the End of the Beginning

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Jesus Merino, Jason Wright, and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018


The time is coming for James Tynion to decide if Clayface is going to be a villain or hero.  I am still holding out hope for hero, but even if that's not the case, I will give Tynion credit...he has evolved the character from just being a cliffhanger doppelganger.  You know, when you end an issue thinking Jim Gordon has been killed and the next issue it's revealed to be Clayface.  I hate that!  So, at least if he moves back to the other side of the tracks, he has some more abilities for writers to use.  I am getting ahead of myself here and go back to the question, Hero or Villain?  Well, let's find out if we get an answer this week...

The Hellblazer #18 Review and **SPOILERS**

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How the Bardo Was Won

Writer: Richard Kadrey 

Penciller: Davide Fabbri 

Inker: José Marzán Jr. 

Colorist: Carrie Strachan 

Letterer: Sal Cipriano 

Cover Artist: Jesús Merino with Carrie Strachan 

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

This series has gone through a few title changes since John Constantine got folded back into the DCU proper, but there’s one they’ve never tried: The ‘Ellblazer. Come on, it’s perfect! Instead, I’m saddled with reviewing the plainly-named The Hellblazer #18 for your edification and enjoyment. Well, edify and enjoy!

The Demon: Hell is Earth #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Under New Management

Writer: Andrew Constant 

Penciller: Brad Walker 

Inker: Andrew Hennessy 

Colorist: Chris Sotomayor 

Letterer: Tom Napolitano 

Cover: Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, Lee Loughridge 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

 I’ve never been to Death Valley. The only connection I have to the location is having read an old Mickey Mouse comic—probably titled “Mickey Mouse and Death Valley”—that was something about inheriting a ranch, and rustlers, and maybe a ghost or some such…thinking about it now, the story might have involved Donald Duck. I do remember one comment, though: that Death Valley is “120 degrees in the shade—and there is no shade!” And that was before Hell’s nuclear missile set the place ablaze! Let’s see how it’s doing in my review of The Demon: Hell is Earth #3, commencing!

Doom Patrol #10 Review and **SPOILERS**

I Think I Love None, So What Am I So Afraid Of?

Writer: Gerard Way 

Penciller & Cover: Nick Derington 

Inker: Tom Fowler 

Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain 

Letterer: Todd Klein 

Special Thanks: Jeremy Lambert

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: January 24, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Dum de dum, here I am, strolling along the sidewalk without a care in the world…what’s this? A new issue of Doom Patrol? Why, that’s the rarest plum of all! Let me take this rarely seen item to my home so I might write a review of issue #10, that you can read right now!

Wonder Woman #39 Review and *SPOILERS*

Wonder Twins

Written By: James Robinson

Art By: Emanuela Lupacchino, Carmen Carnero, Ray McCarthy, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Saida Temofonte

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

After last issue, James Robinson really got my attention because after dealing with Wonder Woman discovering her brother Jason, I was starting to think that his heart wasn't in writing the character, but his introduction to Silver Swan was something that really captivated me and made me remember why I love reading Wonder Woman so much.  Hopefully, that continues here as Silver Swan makes her presence known the Amazon Princess.  Let's check it out.

Blue Beetle #17 Review and *SPOILERS*

Time To Finish Up This Arc

Written By: Christopher Sebela

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

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Here we are at the penultimate issue of Blue Beetle and the end of this arc, which has been such a letdown so far that I can't think of anyway that it can possible crawl it's way back up....... Well, maybe if it makes the story a bit clearer, but even that seems hard pressed at this point.  Previously, we saw Jaime going up against Stopwatch, a villain who is trying to go back and rewrite his own history so that he never becomes the time traveling monster that he's become, but each time he goes back, it only goes as it always did, but now that the has the Blue Beetle armor it seems that he finally has everything that he needs to give himself the happily ever after that he's always wanted.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Stopwatch can stop the cycle.  Let's check it out.

Batman Beyond #16 Review and *SPOILERS*

The Most Dangerous Game

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Phil Hester, Ande Parks, Michael Spicer, Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 24, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Stalker's in Neo Gotham with a few days to kill and too bad for Batman....... he's the prey.  Previously, we saw Stalker get recruited by some mystery man in the shadows to take Batman down, like we saw him do with the Royal Flush gang, but where they failed, Stalker can't because in return for Batman's capture, Stalker is promised food enough for months for his people, who have been starving ever since the Brother Eye invasion.  Let's see if Terry can get through to Stalker, or if this hunt leads in our hero's death.  Let's check it out.

Action Comics #996 Review and *SPOILERS*

New Krypton of Tomorrow

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: January 24, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Our "Booster Shot" story continues here, where previously we saw everyone getting acquainted with Booster Gold's origin story from Gotham City in the 25th Century, but as we continue our time travel adventure, we saw Booster and Superman crash land on a strange planet that seemed to be ruled by General Zod.  That's right, it seems that Zod and his family conquered a planet after the Superman Revenge Squad arc and our two heroes are trapped on it.  Let's jump into this issue and see what the game plan is and if we're actually in the present or the future.  Let's check it out.

Doomsday Clock #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Never Trust Batman

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Gary Frank, Brad Anderson

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 24, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

The hunt for Dr. Manhattan continues with this installment of the Doomsday Clock, where we previously saw Ozymandias, Rorschach, Marionette and The Mime travel to the DCU in search of the big blue god, but instead Rorschach found the Batcave and Ozymandias found Lex Luthor........ and the Comedian alive.  Hopefully, we'll get to the bottom of how and why Edward Blake is alive because that reveal really threw me last issue and I really need some answers.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Geoff Johns can throw some light on this darkness and illuminate us all.  Let's check it out.

PREVIEW: Detective Comics #973

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Jesus Merino, Jason Wright, and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 24, 2018

“Fall Of The Batmen” finale! With the team in disarray and facing their most powerful adversary yet, Batwoman must make a critical battlefield choice—one with the power to shatter everything Batman has built! You’ll be talking about this issue for years to come!