Retro Review: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Episode 1 Review

Maybe its just my age but it seems like there isn't as much fun in the world these days. I suspect that perception is just a figment of my imagination and there is probably just as much fun out there, just not for men of a certain age as we get older and grouchier with our young kids hanging off us!

Nonetheless, as far as DC comics go I think the observation may just hold true. When Rebirth hit Johns told us to look forward to an initiative at DC which focused on "Legacy, hope, optimism, heart, relationships". These days, while I'm really enjoying a lot of the books, it's hard to say that the mission statement remains true with books exploring deeper, darker themes. I'm fine with that but sometimes I need some sunshine in my DC universe. With that in mind, I ordered a few box-sets for WSDC Retro Review!

Script Doctor: Batman #55

This is the first article in what I hope is a continuing series, where we take a look at an issue and discuss what we would change and why we would do it.  It comes off the joke we make on the podcast about being script doctors and I want to thank Simon for coming up with the awesome idea.  Again, this is Simon's opinion as a huge fan of DC Comics and it's just what he would do to change Batman #55 if he had the chance.  It doesn't mean he is right or wrong, just what he would do if he could.  Read it as an Elseworlds were Simon is the editor of the Batman book and enjoy! If you think the issue is perfect as is, or have some other changes in mind, let us know in the comment section below.  In case you are wondering, I agree with every single thing he says here!  - Jim

Weird Science DC Comics Best Books of the Week 9/22/18

There were a bunch of books that came out this week, but only three made the cut for Best of the Week.  That's the thing, they all can't be winners...

Retro Review: Spirit Newspaper Strip #1 (1940) - "The Origin of the Spirit"

Spirited Away

Written by: Will Eisner
Art by: Will Eisner and Joe Kubert
Cover Price: Insert in the Sunday edition of Register and Tribune Syndicate newspaper
Release Date: June 2, 1940

I have always wanted to get into the Spirit and after Reggie sent me a hardcover volume (vol 4), I decided to do it.  It's funny that almost every comic fan knows the name of Will Eisner, but I'm not sure that a lot of people have read his most famous work.  For these retro reviews, I am starting from the beginning here and will continue on, though I doubt I will ever reach the end.  Let's jump into the origin of the Spirit, shall we?

Retro Review: Showcase #22 (1959) - "S.O.S. Green Lantern!"

Beware My Power

Written by: John Broome
Art by: Gil Kane
Cover Price: 10¢
Release Date: October 1959

Whether or not he is "your" Green Lantern, there is no real question that Hal Jordan is the most popular character to put on a green power ring.  He was the figurehead of the book's redesign and the new space cop angle pushed the book forward during a time when the comic industry was struggling with declining sales and that crazy Comics Code they were dealing with.  So, after a couple of Green Lantern retro reviews, I decided it was about time to dive into Hal Jordan's first appearance.  Here we go...

Retro Review: All-Flash Comics #31 (1947) - "The Secret City"

We Built This City

Written by: Robert Kanigher
Art by: Carmine Infantino and Frank Giacoia
Cover Price: 10¢
Release Date: 


For my money, the golden age Flash stories are some of the craziest and so, some of the most fun.  the big appeal of Jay Garrick is his singular power, but it seems like sometimes the writers struggled to find something for a fast guy to do.  Here is a great example as Jay ends up in the Amazon in search of a secret city with self-projecting natives intent on taking over the world.  So, let's get into it…

Retro Review: Nightwing #1 (1996) - "Child of Justice"

Give Blud


Written by: Chuck Dixon
Art by: Scott McDaniel, Karl Story, Roberta Tewes, and John Costanza
Cover Price: $1.95
Release Date: October 1996

Nightwing is my favorite character and the main reason I decided to do these retro reviews in the first place.  I mean, DC seems intent on messing with Nightwing fans more and more these days so why not go back to the beginning when things were fresh for old Dick Grayson, right?  Well, here is my review for Nightwing #1 or as I like to call it, “how dick found a home but lost a ponytail”

Throwback Thursday: Batman Annual #4 Review (2015)

Bruce Wayne, This is Your Life

Written By: James Tynion IV
Art By: Roge Antonio, Dave McCaig, Steve Wands
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: September 30, 2015
Review by: Eric Shea

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Oh, it's Annual time again and that means that we'll be told a tale that doesn't exactly jive with what we're currently dealing with in the series...... yeah, that sounds a lot like Batman #44 to me, but to my surprise this story actually has a lot to do with our current storyline and I'm sure that everybody will be pleased to know that it features Bruce Wayne....... Also, a pseudo-Arkham Manor epilogue.  That was a strange series, but I'm all for an explanation on how Bruce got the manor back from the crazies and it's all here...... Woo!  Anyway, there isn't much for me to recap on here, Jim Gordon is Batman, Bruce Wayne has no memory of his life as Batman...... or anything really and now it's time for a homecoming.  Let's check it out.

Throwback Thursday: Gotham By Midnight #1 Review (2014)

Seeing Is Believing

Written By: Ray Fawkes 
Art By: Ben Templesmith
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Review by: Eric Shea

Well the wait is finally over all you supernatural lovers, Gotham By Midnight is here and we're going to see what Ray Fawkes and Ben Templesmith have up there sleeves to hook us on a team of Gotham cops and specialists that devote their time to investigating the things that go bump in the night that threaten the land of the living.  It's a very cool premise and it's good to get another title into DC's Dark category........ Is that still a thing?  It doesn't matter because we're going into Gotham and Batman isn't our main character and we're focused on Jim Corrigan and The Spectre isn't our main character, so this title right off the bat is working outside the box of superhero comics.  Let's check out what this first issue has in store for us and see if this is something that we can expect to grab us each month and put a little fear into our hearts as we scan each panel.  Let's check it out.

Throwback Thursday: Martian Manhunter #1 Review (2015)

A Weapon, Conspiracy Theories and Biscuits

Written By: Rob Williams
Art By: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Gabe Eltaeb
Cover Price: $2.99Release Date: June 17, 2015
Review by: Eric Shea

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

With all the titles that we've craved to see since the beginning of the New 52, I never thought that Martian Manhunter would be stepping out on his own before Booster Gold or Shazam, but you know what?  I'm usually wrong so none of this should really come as a shock to me.  Anyway, I've never been one to think that Martian Manhunter was interesting enough to hold his own title and even after getting berated by a buddy of mine who's a huge Manhunter fan, I still stuck to my guns and dismissed the idea........... Yeah, this is a really negative opener, but bear with me.  After reading the sneak peek for this issue, I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed the hell out of it and hopefully, I'll have to eat my words and this Martian Manhunter title will rock our socks off and be a long-standing title.  Only time will tell so let's quit dilly-dallying and check out some Martian Manhunter!

Throwback Thursday: Justice League #40 Review (2015)

Not With A Whimper

Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Kevin Maguire, Phil Jimenez, Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Scott Kolins, Jason Fabok, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Brad Anderson, Alex Sinclair
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 29, 2015
Review by: Eric Shea

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Holy shit it's taken forever but today it's finally here Justice League #40 and with it the prologue to the Darkseid War.  Not a puny ass war like in the first issues of this title but the real deal...... So I guess that means it will last like ten issues right?  Yeah, I doubt it but this feels bigger than those first six issues right?  All I know is when you toss around concepts like Darkseid Vs. The Anti-Monitor, you're going to get people excited and I know that I'm one of those people.  So let's belt up our shoes, 2015 style and jump into this story that is going to go above and beyond to Explain It! all to you.  Let's check it out.

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

Some Covers, My Brother (and/or Sister)

Comics came out from DC Comics, and every one of them had a cover. Don't believe me? Read on, smart-ass, and see my favorite five of these things you think are "figments of my imagination." You don't see the dimensions I can!

The Wild Storm #17 Review and Spoilers

Here Comes The Rain Again

Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Jon Davis-Hunt
Colors by: Brian Buccellato
Letters by: Simon Bowland
Cover price: $3.99

Another month, another stop on the John Lynch/Gen-12 reunion tour. While the general level of quality in terms of writing and art continues to remain extraordinarily high in this series, there's little doubt that Ellis' decision to shift focus from both the brewing IO/Skywatch war and Jacob Marlowe's WildCAT to Jenny Mae Sparks' Authority-building and Lynch's trek down memory lane has resulted in a slowing down of pace and a certain structural repetition that, personally, I could do without. This issue sees Lynch visit yet another Project Thunderbook subject. Let's see how he gets on…

Harley Quinn #50 Review and **SPOILERS**

Harley Misses Every Opportunity

Writer: Sam Humphries 

Artists: John Timms, Whilce Portacio, Agnes Garbowska, John McCrea, Kelley Jones, Jon Davis-Hunt, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Scott Kolins, Dan Jurgens, Guillem March, Mirka Andolfo, Babs Tarr, Tom Grummett, Cam Smith 

Colorists: Alex Sinclair, Gabe Eltaeb, John Kalisz, Michelle Madsen, Andrew Dalhouse, Romulo Fajardo Jr. 

Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Cover: Amanda Conner and Paul Mounts 

Variant Cover: Frank Cho 

Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 

Editor: Alex Antone 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $4.99 

On Sale Date: September 19, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

It’s an oversized, anniversary issue, and only the second #50 issue in three years! That’s pretty good, but let’s see if we can get the next volume’s #50 issue inside of one year, huh? Just make it a weekly. Then after that, I want the series to reach #50 within four weeks. Eventually, a volume will come out where the first issue and the fiftieth are in stores on the same day. For now, have a look at my review of Harley Quinn #50, why not?

Injustice Vs. Master of the Universe #3 Review

Nowhere and No One is Safe

Writer: Tim Seeley
Art Team: Freddie E. Williams II, Jeremy Colwell
Release Date: September 19, 2018
Cover Price: $3.99

Injustice vs Masters of the Universe has been a blast so far, with a two-front battle going on in two different worlds, mixed in with just enough humor and fun each issue to make the mini-series stand out in a crowded market.  So what else would you expect from this creative team for issue three besides some more of the same, and throw in a few twists and turns for good measure?  Let's jump into this month's issue and check it out.

Damage #9 Review

The Final Countdown

Writer: Robert Venditti
Art Team: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, Hi-Fi
DC Comics
Release Date: September 19, 2018
Cover Price: $2.99

Damage was a New Age of Heroes title I initially had high hopes for at the start, which has faded a bit down the stretch as the title has continued on, milking the guest star of the month gimmick a tad too long. With that being said there is a bit of reason for optimism, as it appears from last issues cliffhanger, that Damage is finally about to confront Col. Jonas once and for all.  So let's see what the possible final showdown looks like, shall we?

New Challengers #5 Review

Did You Get That? 

Writer: Aaron Gillespie, Scott Snyder
Art Team: V Ken Marrion, Sandu Florea, Dinei Ribeiro
Release Date: September 19, 2018
Cover Price: $2.99

New Challengers has recovered to be a book I look forward to checking out each month, but now with all of our characters introduced to us, which was the formula of the first few issues, the writers seem ready to unleash a bevy of information pertinent to the story bringing this book home for a conclusion next issue.  Let's see how well this all works out with everything still left to tie up.

Aquaman #40 Review and **SPOILERS**

Last One Hired, First One Fired

Story: Dan Abnett and Rob Williams 

Script: Dan Abnett 

Pencils: Joe Bennett 

Inks: Vicente Cifuentes 

Colors: Adriano Lucas 

Letters: Steve Wands 

Cover: Rafa Sandoval and Ivan Plascencia 

Variant Cover: Joshua Middleton 

Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 

Editors: Alex Antone and Katie Kubert 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: September 19, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

And now we come to the senses-shattering conclusion of “Sink Atlantis!” Which I could swear was originally called “Atlantis Rising,” but whatever. Let’s not delay reading my review with these extra letters and words, check out what I wrote for Aquaman #40 right now!

Teen Titans #22 Review and **SPOILERS**

Writer: Adam Glass
Artist: Bernard Chang
Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
Letters: Deron Bennett
Cover: Nick Derington
Variant Cover: Alex Garner
Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea
Editor: Alex Antone
Group Editor: Brian Cunningham
Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: September 19, 2018

I was going to leave this "above the break" bit blank... sort of as a moment of silence for our fallen friend, Roundhouse.  I decided instead, to give him a bit of a eulogy.  

Roundhouse... what could be said about Roundhouse?  He was blue... and he bounced.  He has a... I promised myself I wouldn't cry... he had a pretty popular ViewTube Channel.

That's about all we know, right?  Okay, I guess that'll do.

Anyhoo... Abyssinia, ya blue bastid!

Nightwing #49 Review

Crash and Burn

Written By: Ben Percy

Art By: Amancay Nahuelpan, Nick Filardi, Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 19, 2018

Every year on the Isle of Harm, there's a race.  The greatest motorcycle race in the Universe........ which obviously feels like a fitting conclusion to a story about living technology, mind data mining and somehow getting people on the street to confessing to their greatest sins........ Yeah, this doesn't feel right, but hopefully Ben Percy is able to make it all come together before Nightwing goes and has himself a life altering situation happen to him after this issue.  Let's jump into this and see what we get.

Batman #55 Review

You Give Love a Bad Name
Writer: Tom KingArtist: Tony DanielCover Price: $3.99Release Date: September 19, 2018
I am back reviewing Batman and yes, it's because Eric had enough.  We do shift through books every now and again to make sure things stay fresh, so I hope that's what happens here.  Now, it is an odd issue for me to jump into with all the spoilers about this issue and what it means to my favorite character, Nightwing.  I promise not to spoil it any more than what already has been released and with that, let's get on with the review...

Green Lanterns #55 Review

Getting Spanked

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Mike Perkins, Hi-Fi, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 19, 2018

Now that the cat's out of the bag and we know that Hank Henshaw is the big bad of our arc, maybe now we can get to the actual story because leading up to this point......... Well, I was bored as hell.  Penelops dying and his planet being mined for minerals, while an energy based dude named Eon with no back story beat the hell out of our heroes wasn't the roller coaster ride of emotions that Dan Jurgens may have thought it was.  Anyway, let's jump back into this story and see if thing pick up.  Let's check it out.

Justice League #8 Review

Gods, Lies, and Videotape

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Mikel Janin, Jeromy Cox, and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 19, 2018


It's Legion of Doom time again in the Justice League series and while I liked the first Legion issue, it came at a point where I was desperate for answers to the main story.  That may still be the case, but for some reason, I seemed ready for this issue a whole lot more than the last.  So, do we get more answers while peeking in on Lex and his merry band of do-badders?  Let's find out...

Mister Miracle #11 Review

Daddy Issues

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mitch Gerads and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 19, 2018

I have had a rocky relationship with Mister Miracle since it began.  While most people would guess that I hate this series, I keep telling them that I am just not ready to crown it the best book ever until I see how it turns out.  I have had problems with reviewing individual issues because of the "is it real or not" story structure and what that means to the overall narrative.  I also think that some reviewers have jumped on  the Mister Miracle is an instant classic bandwagon in order to hide the fact that they have no idea what's going and are afraid of going out on a limb and looking dumb.  I have never been afraid of that and I think I have given way more of an explanation of why I don't like a lot of this series than fans have explained why they love it.  With that in mind, let's discuss the penultimate issue...

Batman: Damned #1 Review

Damn Right

Writer: Brian Azzarello
Artist: Lee Bermejo and Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Price: $6.99
Release Date: September 19, 2018

We are finally here at the official opening of Black Label, that "BRINGS EDGY AND PROVOCATIVE STANDALONE STORIES TO THE LEGENDS OF BATMAN, SUPERMAN AND WONDER WOMAN".  Yep, DC announced it in all caps and while I hate being shouted at (especially via text), I was excited to see what these books would be all about.  Now that Batman: Damned is here, how was it?  Let's find out...

Throwback Thursday: Sinestro #1 Review (2014)

Fear Itself

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Dale Eaglesham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014
Review by: Eric Shea

Here we are with a brand new Lantern title, and unlike when Larfleeze started, I'm psyched.  As far as I can tell this title takes place after Forever Evil because our favorite face of fear has parted ways with Parallax, and has been spending his time isolated from the rest of the universe.  So let's dive in and see what pulls Sinestro from his self-imposed exile, and puts him back in the game.  What game you ask.  Well, the game of FEAR!  Let's get started.

Throwback Thursday: Constantine: The Hellblazer #1 Review (2015)

Going Down


Written By: Ming Doyle, James Tynion IV
Art By: Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascensia
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 10, 2015

Review by: Eric Shea

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time for Constantine to get back to his Hellblazer roots and get back to the darkness that seemed to be lost with him living in a world of superheroes....... Yeah, he's still living within the DC You, but the heroes bit looks like it's going to be played down, instead of our hero traveling to Earth-2.  It's funny to me because while a lot of people had problems with John being so prevalent in the superhero community, that Earth 2 story was one of the finest to come out of the previous series.  At this point, I'm just writing for writing sake because I like to have a recap section, but since this is the first issue there's nothing really to talk about.  So let's quit the jibber jabber and get into Constantine: The Hellblazer and see how our old pal John is doing.  Let's check it out.

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 107 - American Honda Presents DC Comics’ Supergirl (1984)

Buckle Up Before You Save the Ark of the Covenant

Hello, safety enthusiasts! In this episode, traffic coordinators Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) learn they'd better click it or get a ticket when they read the PSA comic book American Honda Presents DC Comics’ Supergirl from 1984! After biographies for the creative team, including the legendary Joe Orlando and Angelo Torres, they break down every weird, dream-like beat of the issue. Then, after a break, the buckle up buddies detail the history of the seatbelt. And finally, they get through some listener mail, after way too long! Listening to this episode could reduce your liability insurance by ten percent, you won't want to miss it!