Injustice 2 #43 Review

Injustice 2 #43

Writer: Tom Taylor
Art Team: Bruno Redondo, Juan Albarran, Rex Lokus
Marvel Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Cover Price: $0.99

Monkey Business 

Tom Taylor sure knows how to end an issue and leave us all hanging doesn't he? I mean when the cliff hanger is a rebellion sponsored by Grodd in the Injustice Universe your doing something right.  So lets waste no more time, and see what the results of all this fighting will turn out to be, shall we. Join me inside for a blow by blow breakdown and critique.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Detective Comics Annual #1

Check out our Patreon.  For as little as $1 a month, you can help support the podcast! This week's Patreon Spotlight: The Silencer #1 & Mystik U #2

Dark Ark #5 Review

Heaven...must be missing an angel

Written by: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Juan Doe 
Publisher: Aftershock Comics
Release Date: 31 January 2018
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy 


Those Vampires. Always up to trouble. Shrae managed to fend off their attack in the last issue of this book. But those bloodsucking fiends and their attempted coup have drawn the attention of more powerful forces...let's see how a little heavenly intervention will play out this issue.

Kill The Minotaur TP Review

Natural Born Killers

Written by Chris Pasetto, Christian Cantamessa
Art by Lukas Ketner
Colors by Jean Francois Beaulieu
Letters by Clem Robins
Published by Image Comics
Review by Andrew McAvoy

As a kid in school we used to study the Greeks and the Romans and it never felt like work. Okay, so you had to do a test on it but it did kinda feel like it was our lucky day when our lessons revolved around violent, crazy Emperors and crazy dudes like Socrates. Ah, Socrates, I wonder if he ever thought that 2,300 years after his life he'd be described as a crazy dude on an award-winning comics site. Anyway, the highlight of any class on the Greeks and Romans were their myths and legends, especially the Greeks mostly because the Romans just swiped all their best stories. One of the best is the story of the Minotaur: let's see how it translates into comic book form.

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

Directed By: Mark Tonderia

Written By: Jan Nash

First Aired: January 30, 2018

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 1/31/18

Fifth Weak

This month has a fifth Wednesday, so you know what that means! A bunch of Annual issues and some schedule leftovers. It wasn't always this week! Despite the meager offerings, I came up with five of the best covers from DC Comics this week, so read on to find out what they are!

Flash: Honey, I Shrunk Team Flash - Review and **SPOILERS**

Written By: Judalina Nera and Sam Chalsen

Directed By: Chris Peppe

First Aired: January 30, 2018

Motherlands #1 Review and ***SPOILERS***

Stop In The Name Of Breasts

Written by: Simon Spurrier
Art by: Rachael Stott, Felipe Sobreiro, and Simon Bowland
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

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

To be honest, I didn't have the slightest idea of what to expect from this book. I'm not really a solicit reader and I haven't heard much about this title at all. I've never read anything from Simon Spurrier or Rachael Stott, so I didn't even know what to expect in terms of writing or art style. The cover looks awesome, but that is by Eric Canete, so I knew the internal art would be different. But for the most part, Vertigo's titles have been on a good run lately with Savage Things and Imaginary Fiends, so I have high hopes for this one as well. Let's take a peak in and see how things go in this opening issue.

Harley Quinn #36 Review and **SPOILERS**

Guano Over Coney Island

Writer: Frank Tieri 

Art: Inaki Miranda 

Color: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner and Hi-Fi 

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: January 31, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I’ve spent way too much time just now trying to make a parody of “Original Coney Isle” that would somehow involve Harley Quinn being a Man-Bat. Let’s just get on with it, okay? Check out my review of Harley Quinn #36, right here!

Justice League of America/Doom Patrol #1 Review and **SPOILERS**

It Does a Reality Good

Writers: Steve Orlando & Gerard Way

Illustrator: Aco, Hugo Petrus 

Colorists: Tamra Bonvillain & Marissa Louise 

Letterer: Clem Robins 

Special Thanks to: David Lorenzo Riveiro 

Back-Up Script: Magdalene Visaggio 

Back-Up Art & Color: Sonny Liew 

Back-Up Letters: Todd Klein 

Cover: Frank Quitely 

Cover Price: $4.99 

On Sale Date: January 31, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Here it is folks! The super-duper comic book crossover event we’ve all been waiting for! No, not that other one we’re currently reading and which has been kicked to a bi-monthly schedule, and not that other one that we’re also waiting for but looks to finish up this year despite a bunch of spin-offs already coming out, I mean this crossover event, between DC Comics and its imprint Young Animal, which they’ve been calling “Milk Wars.” So how’s the opening salvo of this war? Check out my review of Justice League America/Doom Patrol #1 and find out!

Mystik U #2 Review

Oh, Oh, Oh It's Magik

Written by: Alisa Kwitney
Art by: Michael Norton and Jordie BellaireCover Price: $5.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

I really liked the first issue of Mystik U and while that wasn't a total surprise, it was a pleasant one still.  This book had been delayed and canceled so often that I never thought it would see the light of day. Well, I'm glad it did because it scratched the Dark Universe itch that I didn't even know I wanted to scratch and so I'm sure those more inclined to like this sort of thing were jumping for joy.  So, is this second issue just as good?  Let's find out...

Deathstroke Annual #1 Review

Suicide Squad

Written by: Priest
Art by: Larry Hama, Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jeromy Cox, and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

I have enjoyed the Defiance story, but I have to admit, it is starting to feel a tad too long.  I really want to get past this and see if Priest is going to keep giving us a good guy Slade or if Deathstroke will end up going back to his old ways.  It's not like this new Deathstroke is a goody-goody, but I like this new version.  So, does this Annual give us any hints at how it will all end?  Let's find out...

The Flash Annual #1 Review

Speedy Delivery

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Howard Porter, Christian Duce, Hi-Fi, Carlos M Mangual, and Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018


It makes me so happy to say that I've been enjoying the Flash book recently.  After Dick Grayson, Flash is my favorite hero and to set the record straight, Barry Allen is my Flash.  I am not a picky fan, either.  I just need my Flash book to be fun and Joshua Williamson is finally giving me just that.  Yep, nobody else...just me!  I'm selfish like that!  Hopefully, he is also writing the upcoming Flash War for me as well because I want that to be fun times ten.  Heck, let's make it fun times infinity!  So, is this prelude to the Flash War a ton of fun?  Let's find out...

The Silencer #1 Review

Silent But Deadly!

Written by: John Romita Jr and Dan Abnett

Art by: John Romita Jr, Sandra Hope, Dean White and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

The New Age of DC Heroes is in full swing, with the first title, Damage, setting quite the stage in terms of artistic quality. Here the forefront creative force is none other than John Romita Jr, a generally lauded artist who, frankly, I'm not a big fan of. Similarly to Damage, The Silencer feels mostly unoriginal in terms of its conception. But I'll get into that later. Do Romita Jr and Dan Abnett manage to add a new twist to a tired concept?

Detective Comics Annual #1 Review

Mud In Your Eye

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018


I have been lukewarm overall on this entire run of Detective Comics, mainly due to the up and down nature of the narrative.  I love the idea of the Gotham Knights, but Tynion's insistence on never tying up his story threads completely is just so frustrating as a reader and a fan.  However, through all of the Colony and First Victim nonsense, one thing has remained constant...I love Clayface as a hero.  Of course, the last issue of Detective did more than just throw out the idea that Basil will return to being evil, it left us wondering if he will even survive.  Until we find out what's going on, we have this Clayface origin story to keep us occupied.  Is it any good?  Let's find out...

Dark Nights Metal #5 Review

All Roads...

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and FCO Plascencia
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018


To say I couldn't wait for this issue is a huge understatement, but it's a two-fold type of thing.  On one hand, I've been enjoying the story, but on the other, the delays are killing me!  It seems that while DC has been set on getting all the regular books out on time, the big event ones (this and Doomsday Clock) are having issues making their deadlines.  This isn't the time or place to rant and rave about that, though, since issue five of Metal is here!  So, do Snyder and Capullo kick ass and make me forget all about delays and all of that other business stuff?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: The Flash Annual #1

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Howard Porter, Christian Duce, Hi-Fi, Carlos M Mangual, and Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

“FLASH WAR” prelude! The biggest Flash story of 2018 starts here, with a special story starring the classic Wally West, who’s conflicted over whether to let Iris West know he is alive—and he’ll need the help of the Flash to figure out what to do! But when Magenta, Wally’s old love, needs his help, the Flash returns home to Keystone City where he is confronted with violent memories of an unknown world…A major turning point for the Flash family that sets the path for earth-shattering stories in 2018!

PREVIEW: Detective Comics Annual #1

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas and Sal Cipriano
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

“Clay”! Here it is, the shocking, heartbreaking origin of Clayface, including his first conflict with Batman! Actor Basil Karlo was on the cusp of fame and fortune...the kind he had dreamed of through his painful childhood...until an accident robbed him of the good looks that took him to the top. But scars don’t make you a monster—only the darkness in your heart can do that—and in the wake of the accident, Karlo’s darkness is revealed! 

PREVIEW: Dark Nights Metal #5

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and FCO Plascencia
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

The Justice League faces the final extinguishing of our world, invaded on all sides by unimaginable nightmares, fueled on to the edge of oblivion only by the belief that there must be a light in the endless darkness—somewhere. But…what if there’s not? 

PREVIEW: Deathstroke Annual #1

Written by: Priest
Art by: Larry Hama, Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jeromy Cox, and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 31, 2018

“An Innocent Man”! Team Defiance is pushed to the edge of oblivion when one of their own ends up dead—and Deathstroke is to blame! Is this the end of Slade Wilson’s hero turn? It’s all been building to this—don’t miss the finale of “Defiance,” the events of which will lead Deathstroke down a shocking new path!

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn #36

With a Capital "T" and that Rhymes with "B" and that Stands for "Bat"

Writer: Frank Tieri 

Art: Inaki Miranda 

Color: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner and Hi-Fi 

Variant Cover: Frank Cho and Sabine Rich 

Cover Price: $2.99 

On Sale Date: January 31, 2018

“Man-Batter Up” part two! Harley was sure she knew who was targeting her friends—but man, was she wrong! Or should we say “Man-Bat, was she wrong!”? And if you thought Harley had anger issues before, wait until you see her juiced up with Man-Bat serum!

I have to say...I wouldn't mind seeing Harley Quinn as a berzerking Man-Bat at all! Have a look at some preview pages, right here! 

PREVIEW: Justice League of America/Doom Patrol #1

Got Milk?

Writers: Steve Orlando & Gerard Way 

Illustrator: Aco, Hugo Petrus 

Colorists: Tamra Bonvillain & Marissa Louise 

Letterer: Clem Robins 

Special Thanks to: David Lorenzo Riveiro 

Back-Up Script: Magdalene Visaggio 

Back-Up Art & Color: Sonny Liew 

Back-Up Letters: Todd Klein 

Cover: Frank Quitely 

Cover Price: $4.99 

On Sale Date: January 31, 2018

“MILK WARS” part one! Welcome to the un-event of the year! Kicking off a line-wide adventure, DC’s Young Animal collides with the DC Universe to bring you a different kind of crossover.

Not a lot to go on, based on the solicit. Maybe the preview pages, which can be seen below, will yield more enticements!

Arrow: "We Fall" - Review and **SPOILERS**

Written By: Speed Weed (Really??) and Spiro Skentzos

Directed By: Wendey Stanzler

First Aired: January 25, 2018

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Ep 160: DC Comics, Batman, Superman & Wrong Turn Alexa

Check out our Patreon.  For as little as $1 a month, you can help support the podcast! This week's Patreon Spotlight: Doomsday Clock #3 & Raven: Daughter of Darkness #1

Star Wars: Poe Dameron #23 Review

Come fly with me

Written by: Charles Soule 
Art: Angel Unzueta
Colors: Arif Prianto 
Publisher: Marvel 
Reviewer: Andrew McAvoy 

You know that feeling after Christmas when you just want the Christmas decorations taken down and put out of your sight? I'm a bit like that about the Sequel era of Star Wars at the minute. It's like I binged on The Last Jedi so much over Christmas that now all I want is to shuffle off somewhere and watch A New Hope  - an elegant film from a more civilized age. Before the dark times...before...the Twitters....anyway, like it or not I read Poe Dameron issue 23, lets see if it got me in the mood again...

Marvel Two-In-One #2 Review - Marvel Monday

Marvel Two-In-One #2

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Art Team: Jim Cheung, John Dell, Walden Wong, Frank Martin

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


Doom the Stalker
The Marvel Two in One, starring Thing and Johnny, surprised the shit out of me with issue one. I legit thought it was one of the better Marvel Comics I’ve read in a long long time and was excited for this second issue after a perfect combination of character and plot development in the story. So without further ado let's stop blowing the book for a second here and dive into issue two and see if issue two has the same amount of heart.