Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #2 Review

 

Persian Thugs

Written by: Frank Miller
Art by: Frank Miller
Colors by: Alex Sinclair
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy

One thing is for certain; marathons are exhausting. The Battle of Marathon even more so. Last issue we saw how the Athenians scraped an unexpected victory against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. Little did they know however that while they were engaged there, the bulk of the Persian forces were amassing on the coast of Athens. Let's see how they fare in this second installment in this comic reader's guide to a classical education (much more fun that ancient history class).

Doctor Star & The Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows #3 Review

Star Power

Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art by: Max Fiumara
Colors by: Dave Stewart
Letters by: Nate Piekos
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy


The first two issues of this Black Hammer spin-off (part of the Hammerverse...Hammer time!!) I actually found pretty touching. It depicted the rise of Doctor Star and his growing need to explore the galaxy. His wanderlust came at the expense of his family though, and his distance is extended considerably as he goes to rescue a group of peaceful aliens and save them from a mortal threat. In doing so he strayed too close to a black hole, and on return, the time had passed at different rates back on earth. What seemed like a few hours for Star, was 18 years back on earth. Think Interstellar.

Death Or Glory #1 Review

Live Free or Die

Written by: Rick Remender
Art by: Bengal
Letterer: Russ Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: 2 May 2018
Review by: Andrew McAvoy


The American Dream, works for some, not for others. Really hard for it to work for me since I don't live in America. That dream though is at the heart of this book, and it is a story that has been told in one form or another since the days of the Old West. Live free or die goes the motto, and it's a motto that the lead character of this series, Glory, places front and center. Let's see how she fares.

Coda #1 Review

Coda-Chrome

Written by: Simon Spurrier
Art by: Matias Bergara
Color assists by: Michael Doig
Letters by: Colin Bell
Publisher: BOOM Studios
Review by: Andrew McAvoy

The imagery around this title really caught my imagination as it started to pop up in previews online over the last few weeks. I'm a big fan of colorful books and I like off the wall stories so it really did appear to be the type of book that I would enjoy. Let's see how it was.

Reborn Volume 1 Review

Must be Mark Millar's Reborn!

Written by: Mark Millar
Penciller: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: Fco Plascencia
Lettering/Design: Nate Piekos
Editor: Rachael Fulton
Publisher: Image Comics (MillarWorld)
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy


You know, I'm man enough to admit it, I'm a sentimental guy. Plus since having kids I've been acutely aware of the sheer speed at which time passes. I remember as a teenager thinking that people worrying about dying were nuts. I couldn't empathize with Woody Allen's neurosis in his movies at all. Now though, I try to make more time for small moments.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #5 Review and Spoilers

Taking a Stand

Written by: Mark Russell and Brandee Stilwell
Art by: Mike Feehan, Sean Parsons and Jose Marzan Jr, Gus Vasquez, Paul Mounts, Ross Campbell and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $3.99

The end is nigh! (Well, it is the penultimate issue…) Mark Russell and co's Cold War-era fable is nearing its conclusion and this issue throws up confrontation, tragedy and Russell's distinctive political satire. A heady mix indeed! Let's get stuck in…

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 87 - Young Heroes in Love #1 (1997)

Young, Dumb, and Full of Gum...ption

Hello, comics enthusiast--do you come here often? In this episode, romantics Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) check out the wildly creative landscape of late 1990s comic books when they read Young Heroes in Love #1 by Dan Raspler and Dev Madan, published by DC Comics in 1997! After a look at the conditions and causes behind this "throw it at the wall, see if it sticks" era and some other earnest attempts of the time, they read the entire issue, which introduces the core characters of this series. Then, after a break, our legal eagles look at some other creator-owned properties published by the Big Two of comic books, and how these agreements have left a few of these characters virtually unusable. A bit of viewer mail and a thanks to the folks leaving iTunes reviews, and that wraps up this episode that will surely pull at your heartstrings!

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week: May 2, 2018

New Real Estate for Variant Covers

Calling all variant covers! Calling all variant covers! Have I got a deal for you! Right now, DC Comics is offering plush, (nearly) logo-free space for you to spread out and luxuriate in all your variant greatness. I'm sort of on the fence about it for now, but I do think it's a great idea to let these images stand alone! Will artists make the most of this design change? Check out this week's Best Covers list and find out! 

BATMAN #46 (Second Opinion)

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018
Review by: Dispatchdcu (click to read all his awesome reviews!)

Welcome to the Oblivion Bar where the first round is on me and the pretzels are free! Be warned: like the pickled eggs at the bar, this issue is going to get SPOILED rotten. 

Let’s dive into this litter box, shall we? We open one year later with Booster being stuck in this alternate timeline. Gotham is in utter chaos, War is everywhere and Thomas Wayne feels like he’s FAILED THIS CITY (arrow tv style). Booster thinks that if he can set up a meet and greet with Selina, Bruce will fall in love with her and fix everything. So, Booster breaks out Selena, sews together a Batman Returns Catwoman suit for her, and they head to Wayne Manor to confront Bruce. Meanwhile, Thomas Wayne had a heart attack and is recovering at home while Dick Grayson Batman is on Booster Gold and Selina’s tail.

The Curse of Brimstone #2 Review

Brimstone Is Not in the House

Storytellers: Philip Tan and Justin Jordan

Art by: Philip Tan, Rain Beredo, and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018

The first issue of this series was interesting enough, but I was holding out until the release of #2 to really confirm if this series would work at all. Does it? Let's find out!

Shade the Changing Woman #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

A Heart is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Written By: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated By: Marley Zarcone
Inks By: Ande Parks
Colors By: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Back-Up Art By: Jamie Coe 
Letters By: Saida Temofonte
Cover By: Becky Cloonan
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: May 2, 2018

I'd have never guessed that Shade the Changing Woman would be my "ehh" Young Animal book.

I never thought I'd see the day where I could honestly say to myself "Man, I wish this was Mother Panic."

Oh well.  Before we move on in, I wanna make sure we're all wearing our black turtlenecks and berets.  Bonus points if you bring your own bongos, maaaaaaan.

Harley Quinn: Harley Loves Joker #1 Review

Picking Up From Where We Left Off

Writer: Paul Dini 

Artist: Bret Blevins 

Colors: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair 

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: May 2, 2018

Last issue we had the Harley Quinn of 2025, here we’ve got the Harley Quinn of 1995. What happened to this series, anyway? It seems adrift, which is unusual for a title that once rivaled Batman in sales figures. Ah well, let’s find out what happened to Harley Quinn twenty years ago in Harley Quinn: Harley Loves Joker #1, right here!

Nightwing #44 Review

No Longer Warm for Her Form

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Chris Mooneyham, Nick Filardi, and Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

“THE BLEEDING EDGE” part one! Change is on the horizon when a new technologist sets his sights on Blüdhaven, creating a holographic, interconnected city where everyone is an individual and also part of a larger network. It’s the Internet made physical! Gentrification on gigabyte-laced steroids. But when this new utopia encroaches on his turf, Nightwing starts to uncover a sinister plot based not on revenge…but on a reckoning. “The Bleeding Edge” begins here, setting Dick Grayson on a path to clarify the ideals at his very core: his sense of home and identity.

Cyborg #22 Review

Systems Failing


Written by: Marv Wolfman
Art by: Tom Derenick, Wil Quintana, Pete Pantazis, and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

“My name is Nijiro Jin, born of flesh and blood, but now encased in steel. I have become N-Jin, who seeks to discard the final traces of frail humanity to become Mekkan-X, the Man-God who will soon wield the power infinite.  All that stands in my way is the construct they call Cyborg. It is for that reason alone that he must regretfully die.”

Introducing Mekkan-X, born in the waning days of the 19th century, who has targeted for destruction not only the Robo Dojo school of giant robot makers, but Vic Stone as well.

Deathstroke #31 Review

Son of a Gun

Written by: Priest
Art by: Carlo Pagulayan, Roberto Viacara, Larry Hama, Jason Paz, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

“DEATHSTROKE VS. BATMAN” part two! The war between Deathstroke and Batman escalates when the Dark Knight foils one of Deathstroke’s assassination attempts! Meanwhile, a mysterious package brings Commissioner Gordon to Bruce Wayne’s doorstep, and Adeline Kane—Slade Wilson’s ex—sets her sights on Batman!

Green Arrow #40 Review

Teen Resistance Titans League

Written by: Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing
Art by: Marcio Takara, Marcelo Maiolo, and Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

“THE CHILDREN OF VAHKAR” finale! Nothing and his army have left Green Arrow for dead in the desert. In order to get himself back to full strength and take out the army, Green Arrow will have to team up with a band of rebel heroes in Vahkar—but will they trust him? Or will he only find himself with more enemies to fight?

Green Lanterns #46 Review

Remember The Fear

Written By: Tim Seeley

Art By: V. Ken Marion, Sandu Florea, Dinei Ribeiro, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

I can't wait to get into this issue because I've been on the edge of my seat to finally find out what Jessica Cruz has locked away in her mind from the time that her friends were murdered, which caused her to become an agoraphobe for three years.  It's been a pretty twist filled ride so far, where hints seem to be dropped that lead us to believe........ or just speculate that Jessica may have had a more sinister part in her friends' deaths.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Tim Seeley is ready to reveal what actually went down and if we get anymore insight into why the realm of Volthoom seems to be nestled deep in Jessica's mind.  Let's check it out.

Batman #46 Review

Meow

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018

If you've been following my reviews of Batman you'll know that I haven't been a fan of Tom King's run of the book and it seems that the previous issue was the one that really just put the final nail in the coffin for me in thinking that we'd ever get a decent story out of this writer.  Yeah, the idea of Booster Gold showing up sounds cool on paper, but what we got was a world that was just pretty much opposite world, where Booster changed the timeline so that he could give Bruce Wayne the wedding gift of showing him how important being Batman is............ but it doesn't make any sense because this alternate timeline Bruce Wayne isn't getting married and has never been Batman and that was just the start of the problems from last issue.  Hopefully, that all changes here as we continue this arc, where maybe Tom King will throw some more 'splaining in and make this whole thing make sense in the end.  Let's check it out.

Action Comics Special #1 Review

Action Comics #1000 Part 2

Written By: Dan Jurgens, Mark Russell, Max Landis

Art By: Will Conrad, Wil Quintana, Rob Leigh, Jill Thompson, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Francis Manapul, Steve Wands

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018

It's so weird that we're getting an Action Comics Special right after getting Action Comics #1000 because these two books are essentially the same thing.  It seems like DC Comics had a few other stories that were sitting around and either they didn't want to make the big #1000 any longer or someone complained and they put this out to try and appease everyone involved............ or something completely different that probably makes way more sense than anything I just said, but either way, it's weird.  With that though, we do have Dan Jurgens stepping up to tell one more Action Comics story and for what it is, it's worth the price tag alone.  Let's check it out.

DC Nation #0 Review

Sneaking A Peek

Written By: Tom King, Brian Michael Bendis, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson

Art By: Clay Mann, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Dexter Vines, Alex Sinclair, Josh Reed, Jorge Jimenez, Alejandro Sanchez, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $0.25

Release Date: May 2, 2018

Like we had with "Divergence" a couple of years back that gave us a sneak peek at what the DCYou was going to look like, here we have the beginning of what the world of DC Comics is going to be for the foreseeable future with all its status quo changes in books such as Batman, Superman and Justice League.  Yeah, the DCYou didn't really work out all that well, with all of our heroes going through radical changes all at once, but hopefully DC has learned their lesson and we won't get a "too much, too soon" thing happening again here.  Let's jump into this issue and see the prologues to Batman and Catwoman's wedding, Bendis' Man of Steel mini and No Justice.  Let's check it out.

PREVIEW: Green Lanterns #46

Written By: Tim Seeley

Art By: V. Ken Marion, Sandu Florea, Dinei Ribeiro, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018

“GHOSTS OF THE PAST” part three! In his effort to free Jessica Cruz from her own power ring, Simon Baz wades through a horde of monsters! But is Simon strong enough to face down the monster inside himself before Jess falls so deep into the abyss that she can’t return?

PREVIEW: DC Nation #0

Written By: Tom King, Brian Michael Bendis, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson

Art By: Clay Mann, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Dexter Vines, Alex Sinclair, Josh Reed, Jorge Jimenez, Alejandro Sanchez, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $0.25

Release Date: May 2, 2018

These stories will appear only in this comic book and will not be reprinted in another comic book before each series’ collected editions. Only the first printing of this issue will have a cover price of $0.25. This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.

Just in time for Free Comic Book Day, this special comic priced at just $0.25 US features three brand-new stories from a lineup of superstar talent—and each tale serves as a prelude to some of the biggest DC events of 2018!

First, find out how The Joker reacts when he discovers Catwoman has turned her back on crime and plans to marry his archnemesis. Can the Clown Prince of Crime stand to see Batman happy? Writer Tom King and artist Clay Mann set up the events that lead to BATMAN #50!

Then, DARK NIGHTS: METAL shook the DC Universe to its deepest foundations—now it’s time to rejoin legendary writer Scott Snyder, along with all-star artist Jorge Jimenez and co-writers James Tynion IV and Joshua Williamson, for the prelude to JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE! Discover what universe-shattering mysteries have emerged from the most wondrous and chaotic corners of the cosmos to hunt the Justice League in DC’s summer blockbuster event!


And get your first glimpse at Superman’s new world in this exclusive preview of the upcoming six-issue miniseries MAN OF STEEL, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by José Luis García-López. With Truth, Justice and the American Way all under attack, both Superman and Clark Kent find there’s never been a more important time to stand up for what they believe in.

PREVIEW: Batman #46

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Tomeu Morey, Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018

“THE TRAVELERS” part two! Booster Gold’s wedding present has screwed up Batman’s past, and done even more damage to his present. Now, with the Caped Crusader himself refusing to cooperate, the only way for Booster to correct this runaway timeline is to get Catwoman on his side. But with her own past altered, can he make Catwoman recognize the qualities in her husband-to-be that brought them together in the first place? Plus, if Batman isn’t doing his job, Gotham City may become way more dangerous than our bumbling time-traveler might be ready for.

PREVIEW: Action Comics Special #1

Written By: Dan Jurgens, Mark Russell, Max Landis

Art By: Will Conrad, Wil Quintana, Rob Leigh, Jill Thompson, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Francis Manapul, Steve Wands

Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 2, 2018

“The Last Will and Testament of Lex Luthor”! When Superman’s world was reborn, his greatest enemy became his most unexpected ally. But does that truly reflect Lex Luthor—or was it all a sham? Now, as Lex Luthor’s path toward righteousness reaches its apex, he finds himself involved in an adventure in which Superman stands to be destroyed. What choice will Luthor make? Will he save Superman or watch him die at the hands of a foe he could not possibly imagine? This oversized special also features stories from the acclaimed teams of Max Landis and Francis Manapul (in a story previously slated to appear in the DC UNIVERSE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2017 #1) and Mark Russell and Jill Thompson!

PREVIEW: Nightwing #44

Written by: Ben Percy
Art by: Chris Mooneyham, Nick Filardi, and Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

“THE BLEEDING EDGE” part one! Change is on the horizon when a new technologist sets his sights on Blüdhaven, creating a holographic, interconnected city where everyone is an individual and also part of a larger network. It’s the Internet made physical! Gentrification on gigabyte-laced steroids. But when this new utopia encroaches on his turf, Nightwing starts to uncover a sinister plot based not on revenge…but on a reckoning. “The Bleeding Edge” begins here, setting Dick Grayson on a path to clarify the ideals at his very core: his sense of home and identity.

PREVIEW: Deathstroke #31

Written by: Priest
Art by: Carlo Pagulayan, Roberto Viacara, Larry Hama, Jason Paz, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2018

“DEATHSTROKE VS. BATMAN” part two! The war between Deathstroke and Batman escalates when the Dark Knight foils one of Deathstroke’s assassination attempts! Meanwhile, a mysterious package brings Commissioner Gordon to Bruce Wayne’s doorstep, and Adeline Kane—Slade Wilson’s ex—sets her sights on Batman!