Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Nightwing #42 & Cyborg #21

It's a double shot, but not all is well.  Check out our review of two books this week and then go and check out our Patreon.  For as little as $1 a month, you can help support the podcast!  This Week's Patreon Spotlight: The Curse of Brimstone #1 & Batman: White Knight #7 

Isola #1 Review

I-sola, s-o-l-a, so-la

Written by: Brenden Fletcher / Karl Kerschl  
Art by: Karl Kerschl 
Colors by: Msassyk
Letters by: Aditya Bidikar 
Published by: Image
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy 

Isola is the much anticipated new Image title written by Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl, and rendered beautifully on the page by Kerschl’s art brought to life through delicate and intricate colors by Msassyk. With art to die for whetting people's appetite long in advance, did the book live up to expectations? Let's see

Analog #1 - Review

The Analog Kid

Written by: Gerry Duggan
Art by: David O'Sullivan
Colors by: Jordie Bellaire
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy


Analog. The hipster motto. Yep, there's now a book that's perfect for those who only read books as Penguin classic paperbacks, while listening to Serge Gainsbourg vinyl smoking Gauloises. "Abandon digital!" they will cry from their smoke-filled booths while swirling their Beaujolais. Oooh, they will coo, now we are really getting the depth of Je T'aime through the crackly grooves of this vinyl, pass me the Johnny Hallyday LPs. Now let us read you this passage of Jean Paul Satre. "Hell is other people" you know. Ooh la la Jean Paul! Monsieur Werner, he agree with you!  Where was I, oh yeah, Analog - it's a comic!

Star Wars: Han Solo Vol 1 Review

Will the real Han Solo please stand up? 

Written by: Marjorie Liu

Art by: Mark Brooks

Publisher: Marvel Star Wars

TPB Release Date: 4 January 2017

2016's Han Solo mini-series from Marvel comics was one of the early success stories from Marvel's recast Star Wars titles. The collected volume is likely to come under the spotlight again in the run up to next month's not so eagerly anticipated Solo stand-alone movie. Solo fans may find that a small outlay on this Trade Paperback will give them a dose of Han in full Harrison Ford mode, if they aren't sold on the casting of Alden Ehrenreich. Let's see how this TPB stacks up.

Chris and Reggie's Weird Comics History, Ep. 27 - Exploring the Mysteries of Marvelman (Miracleman), Part One

You ever have a Dream of Flying?  Join Chris (@acecomics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) as they dive deep into the world of Marvelman.  From his humble beginnings as a British replacement for a certain Big Red Cheese, to the stories people actually care about (ie. those written by Alan Moore, er we mean "The Original Writer".

We will be sharing this crazy story over the next three installments.  This time around you will be introduced to the reasons behind Marvelman's creation, we'll introduce you to his creator Mick Anglo... and discuss the move from Silver Age silliness to cynical 80's grittiness (including a purposely brief synopsis of the WARRIOR Magazine run... because we really don't want to "spoil" that for our dear listeners).

It's a fun-filled hour of chatter... and we don't even get to the lawsuit yet!  The... other lawsuit... the other, other lawsuit.

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 84 - Superman Meets the Quik Bunny (1987)

Hoppy Easter

Happy Pesach! In today's episode, our qlubhouse qharacters Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) investigate the mysteries of Easter--after reading Superman Meets the Quik Bunny by Mike Carlin, Carmine Infantino, and Dick Giordano from 1987! After some short biographical information for everyone, including "Quicky" the Quik mascot himself, our chocoloate milkoholics read the entire issue, spoiling even the puzzles for the uninitiated. Following a commercial break, it's time for the true story of Easter--which may not be the story you're thinking of! A run-down of the Quik Bunny's other comic book appearances and some listener mail rounds out this episode that is more fun than a basket of colored eggs.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week: April 4, 2018

Four Batmen and a Bizarro

This week, it's a first for the DC Comics Best Covers of the Week clearing house: four covers on the list--from two issues! That's right, both the regular edition and variant cover for two titles made it to the Best Covers list--one pair for an obvious reason, the other for reasons...less obvious. Namely, because they have to do with my aesthetic. But also, this list is totally and objectively factual, without room for dissension. Take a look!

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #4 - Review and Spoilers

Written by: Mark Russell and Brandee Stilwell
Art by: Mike Feehan, Sean Parsons and Guy Vasquez
Colours by: Paul Mounts and Ross Campbell
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Price: $3.99


Heavens to Murgatroyd! It's Snagglepuss time! After last month's gentler, more reflective, issue, which gave us a break from Gigi Allen and her one-woman crusade to rid 1950s America of cultural deviants and 'agitators' (a word we'll hear more of in a moment), this issue sees the return of a more explicitly satirical focus. Will Ms Allen succeed in ensnaring our pink-haired hero and get the evidence she needs to out him as a gay man (lion)? Will Huckleberry Hound find the love and acceptance for which he's been longing most of his life?

There is, as ever, only one way to find out…

Shade the Changing Woman #2 Review and **SPOILERS**

I am 14 and this is *still* deep

Shade the Changing Woman #2
"Time's Arrow"
Written By: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated By: Marley Zarcone
Additional Inks By: Ande Parks
Colored By: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letters By: Saida Temofonte
Back-Up Art By: Jamie Coe
Cover By: Becky Cloonan 
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: April 4, 2018

After a less-than-stellar... and perhaps a touch "too cute" initial outing, we're tucking in for the long-haul on Shade the Changing Woman.

She's about to learn that Madness Time and Earth Time don't quite jive... all of her new Terran friends have matured and moved on... while she's busy beboppin' and scattin' around the psychedelic whereverthehell.

Let's see what she gets outta sitting at Rac Shade's Learning Tree.

Batman: White Knight #7 Review

Writer: Sean Murphy
Artist: Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth, and Todd Klein
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

It's the penultimate issue of my favorite book right now and I can't wait to just jump into it.  This series just keeps getting better art and storywise and even those who normally steer clear of elseworlds stories should give it a try.  That being said, I'm just going to get right to my review.  Was this issue good?  Let's find out...

Deathstroke #30 Review

Father's Day

Writer: Christopher Priest
Art by: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Release Date: April 4, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

I have been looking forward to this story since it was announced and while I am a big dummy and thought it was going to be a separate mini-series, I am glad it's happening in the Deathstroke book itself.  I say that because I am a huge fan of Priest's series and any way to get new readers to jump on is a-okay with me!  That being said, I worry that he won't make it easy on those new readers because this run has been one of the densest in Rebirth, but if you put the work in, it pays off big time.  So, how is the beginning to Deathstroke vs. Batman?  Let's finds out...

Harley Quinn #41 Review and **SPOILERS**

That Original Coney Isle

Writer: Frank Tieri

Artists: Inaki Miranda, Moritat 

Colors: Jeremiah Skipper 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair 

Cover Price: $2.99

On Sale Date: April 4, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

The end of “Angry Birds” happens here, and I can’t deny that I’ve been looking forward to reading the end of this yarn! And for once, I don’t mean that in a bad way! Check out my review of Harley Quinn #41, happening just below!

Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

Believe in Cleveland

Writer: Tony Isabella 

Artist: Clayton Henry & Yviel Guichet 

Colorist: Pete Pantazis 

Letterer: Josh Reed

Cover: Clayton Henry & Tomeu Morey

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: April 4, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

And now we come to the conclusion of the miniseries Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands. What have we learned? How have we grown? It seems like six months have passed since this journey began…wait a minute, six months have passed since the first issue! So let’s see what’s what today in my review of issue #6, right here!

Nightwing #42 Review

You Suck Kareem!

Writer: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
Art by: Jorge Corona, Mat Lopes, and Carlos M. Mangual
Release Date: April 4, 2018
Cover Price: $2.99

I wish I could say that I loved Sam Humphries little run on Nightwing, but I didn't.  His Judge story went on way to long and had little payoff by the end.  However, that's water under the bridge and while we wait for Ben Percy to take over the book, we are going to get a couple issues by various creative teams and this week it's Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Jorge Corona.  I know that one issue doesn't give a ton of room to strut your stuff, but do they at least show they know the character and have some fun with him?  Let's find out...

Green Arrow #39 Review

Don't Sandbag Me!

Writer: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Art by: Marcio Takara, Marcelo Maiolo, and Deron Bennett
Release Date: April 4, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Ben Percy's time on Green Arrow is over and while I see a lot of people painting a broad stroke picture of what I felt to be a very inconsistent run, I wonder if what we are going to get will be better.  The Benson's will be taking over this summer, but for now, we get Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, who have quickly become the middle relievers of the DC bullpen.  They are here to eat up innings, keep the lead and then hand the ball over in the 9th.  They are in one of those odd positions that may be set up to fail, but I guess it all boils down to if they have a good story to tell.  Well, do they?  Let's find out...

Cyborg #21 Review

Does Not Compute

Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Tom Derenick, Scott Kolins, Wil Quintana and Rob Leigh
Release Date: April 4, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Cyborg has had a rough time with it and not just lately.  His book has been a mess in the couple different versions and changing creative teams never seem to be the solution. DC must disagree and are going back to the character's creator, Marv  Wolfman, to try to right the ship.  Unfortunately, this is the same thing they did at the end of the New 52 and I don't care what Manship tells us all in the comments below, the results were not good!  However, hope springs eternal and maybe Wolfman can get the character back on track.  Let's find out if he does...

Superman #44 Review and *SPOILERS*

Bizarro's Going Out For A Pack Of Smokes

Written By: Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi

Art By: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Wil Quintana, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to go back to Bizarro World......... even though I really don't want to.  I mean, how the hell can we get an entire arc that's full of Bizarros talking their nonsense backwards talk and our heroes doing their damnedest to try and talk the same way?  I must be in hell.  Even with my hate for Bizarro talk, I will tell you that I really enjoyed last issue and thought I saw a glimpse of a story dealing with abuse in the background and it's that part that I really gravitated towards and I hope we get more of that here........... or, maybe I just looked way too deep to find that story and it was never there in the first place.  Either way, let's jump into this issue and see how our heroes plan on saving Bizarro World from the Legion of Fun.  Let's check it out.

Justice League #42 Review and *SPOILERS*

What Needs To Be Done

Written By: Christopher Priest

Art By: Pete Woods, Willie Schu

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

This whole arc of the Justice League has been a bit of a struggle for me to go through because while we deal with a lot of politics, which I'm not really a fan of or even that knowledgeable about, we also deal with the real life science behind how our heroes can do what they do and in the long run.......... Those two things in a story where everyone hates the heroes that I love...... well, it doesn't make an issue that exciting.  In our previous issue, we saw the Justice League trying to stand their ground in Africa after the Watchtower crashed from space, while also trying to make sure that the refugees and warring tribes of this land didn't go and kill each other.  Let's jump into this issue and see what our heroes will do now that Wonder Woman caught a ricochet bullet in her neck and it looks like Red Lion may have killed Cyborg.  Let's check it out.

Green Lanterns #44 Review and *SPOILERS*

Dealing With The Past

Written By: Tim Seeley

Art By: Ronan Cliquet, Hi-Fi, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that we've returned all of those D-list superheroes to their homes after they were kidnapped by the religious order, The Steed, it seems that we're finally moving on and from what we got in the previous issue, with Jessica's ring acting all creepy as hell and you know, not acting like a normal Green Lantern ring, I hope we continue down that path.  Let's jump into this issue and see if I get my wish or if it's on to something else instead........... Man, I hope not.  Let's check it out.

The Curse of Brimstone #1 Review

Another Day, Another New Age

Written by: Philip Tan and Justin Jordan

Art by: Philip Tan, Rain Beredo, and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

The New Age of DC Heroes train doesn't stop rolling! I wasn't looking forward to this series at all, but not as bad as The Unexpected. Our main character here is Joe Chamberlain or, as he's later called, Brimstone. For those of you interested in this series and the direction the main character goes… there's not much to dissect here. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. To the issue!

Batman #44 Review and *SPOILERS*

Saying Yes To The Dress

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Mikel Janin, Joelle Jones, June Chung, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

The wedding is fast approaching and now that we have that whole "Ivy taking over the world" in the rear view, it seems that it's all about getting everything ready for the big event.......... and really, there isn't much else to say to get you ready for this issue.  So let's just jump into this issue and see what Tom King has for us with this issue of Batman.  Let's check it out.

PREVIEW: Green Lanterns #44

Written By: Tim Seeley

Art By: Ronan Cliquet, Hi-Fi, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: April 4, 2018

“GHOSTS OF THE PAST” part one! Jessica Cruz’s ring has a mind of its own, and it’s lashing out at her! Jess needs to find a way to defend herself against a ring that is making constructs against her will!

PREVIEW: Justice League #42

Written By: Christopher Priest

Art By: Pete Woods, Willie Schu

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

“JUSTICE LOST” part two! Trapped in the chaos of tribal conflict, the Justice League becomes divided over whether to intervene in a civil war in order to protect thousands of fleeing refugees—and a crucial decision could have dire consequences for one of their members! Meanwhile, Batman and Aquaman clash over how to take down the nemesis known only as the Fan, who holds all of their secrets hostage.

PREVIEW: Batman #44

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Mikel Janin, Joelle Jones, June Chung, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

“SOMETHING BLUE”! Follow Batman and Catwoman on two separate but parallel paths as their wedding planning kicks into high gear. Selina picks out her dress, and Bruce starts to make arrangements for their new life together—but this being Gotham City, and they being Batman and Catwoman, you can bet that nothing will go as expected! 

PREVIEW: Superman #44

Written By: Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi

Art By: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Wil Quintana, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 4, 2018

“BOYZARRO RE-DEATH” part three! Gathered together from the cosmic recesses of the universe are the most powerful forces of bad ever assembled! Now the Super Foes face the Legion of Fun—and the only heroes who dare to stand against this intergalactic threat of the Bizarroverse are Superman and son!

PREVIEW: The Curse of Brimstone #1

Writer: Justin Jordan
Art by: Philip Tan, Rain Beredo, and Wes Abbott
Release Date: April 4, 2018
Cover Price: $2.99

Joe Chamberlain would do anything to save his small, forgotten town—even make a deal with the devil. But things get worse, and Joe finds himself cursed with the power of BRIMSTONE. With the power of fire and destruction coursing through his hands, Joe must now track down and destroy the demon he made his deal with before the power he now wields destroys the town he was trying to save. But as the fiery pain inside him grows, can this young man overcome his own demons before his power rips him apart from the inside out?