He-Man & the Masters of the Multiverse #2 Review

Writer: Tim Seeley
Art Team: Dan Fraga, Richard Friend, Matt Yackey, Saida Temofonte
Release Date: December 18, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Keldor on Keldor Crime

He-Man & the Masters of the Multiverse kicked off last issue with a big few surprises.  The big twist was that for the most part a version of Keldor, a.k.a. Skeletor, is our main point of view character. The fun doesn't stop there, because the versions of He-Man we do get are all sorts of crazy, with 80's movie He-Man, app He-Man, and even an evil He-Man all running around for various reasons. It all created a fun issue that made me glad for He-Man's return to comics, so lets get back into it.

Harleen #3 Review

Writer: Stejpan Sejic
Artist: Stejpan Sejic
Cover Price: $7.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019
Review by: Carlos

We are back in the world of Harleen.  As she struggles with her feelings about the Joker, we also see Harvey Dent unleash his plan for the future of Gotham City.  Does he choose to save it or destroy it? Does Harleen make the ethical choice or does she go all in with the Joker? Come on.  You know what she’s doing.  

Aquaman #55 Review and **SPOILERS**

Wetter Together

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick

Pencils: Robson 

Inker: Daniel Henriques 

Colors: Sunny Gho 

Letters: Clayton Cowles 

Cover: Robson Rocha, Jason Paz, & Alex Sinclair 

Variant Cover: Chris Stevens & Sunny Gho 

Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 

Editor: Alex Antone 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: December 17, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

The cover promises that Aquaman and Black Manta are going to end this. NOW! And lord, I hope that’s true. Let’s find out in my review of Aquaman #55, commencing now!

Legion of Super-Heroes #2 Review

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Ryan Sook
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

Review by: Comic Boom Rocky (Check out his Youtube Channel here)

I gave a generally favorable review of the premier issue of LOSH.  Despite a large cast amidst a complicated and unknown future, Bendis planted some interesting seeds moving forward.  Have any of those seeds bloomed in this second issue?  Let’s find out.

Basketful of Heads #3 Review

Writers: Joe Hill

Artist: Leomacs

Colorist: Dave Stewart

Letterer: Deron Bennet

Editors: Mark Doyle & Amedeo Turturro

Release Date: December 18th, 2019

Cover Price: $3.99

Previously in Baskets: June is visiting her college boyfriend on an island in Maine. Liam's last day as a summer cop ended at 5 pm, and just before dinner at the sheriff's house, three inmates escape. The sheriff insists that Liam still goes to his house to have dinner with his wife and son, and he'd feel safer with him there anyways with fugitives on the loose. Eventually, the wife and son are called away, and it's just Liam and April in the house during a big storm. The fugitives break into the house, and while June hides they cut off Liam's finger looking for information. After two of the fugitives leave with Liam, June finds herself alone with one of them... and a huge Norse ax which she uses to chop off his head. But is he dead? Nope! His head is still alive and very aware of what's going on.

The Low, Low Woods #1 Review

Writer: Carmen Maria Machado
Artist: Dani
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18th, 2019

The strange and mysterious past of a small town is now returning for two teenage girls in 1995, so crank up some Alice In Chains and dust off those flannel shirts!

Catwoman #18 Review

Stuck in Reverse

Writer: Joelle Jones
Artist: Joelle Jones, Fernando Blanco, Laura Allred, FCO Plascencia and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

I need this book to pick up the pace one of these months and if the Zatanna doesn't do the trick, I will probably just have to wave the white flag and slowly walk away with my head hanging low. Why the drama? Because of love Catwoman and because I wasn't a fan of Tom King's take, having her solo series had me so happy. Add in a pretty cool city to help her shed her Gotham chains and then throw in her sister Maggie to boot??? I must have died and gone to Villa Hermosa! Bit alas, this series has not had any meaningful progression in over a year and we are still fighting the once interesting, now annoying Raina Creel. Back to the beginning of this rant...Does Zatanna's presence get things moving forward or are we stuck going backward like her famous magic? Let's find out...

Metal Men #3 Review

Devil Ray Care Attitude

Written By: Dan Didio

Art By: Shane Davis, Michelle Delecki, Jason Wright, Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 18, 2019

Let's head back into Metal Men country as we get our team of heroes..... minus Gold, who died last issue, trying to figure out what's up with this Nth Metal Man....... Well, more of Will Magnus trying to get to the bottom of this Dark Multiverse mystery and hopefully he'll have the time to do it because as we ended the last issue we saw a gigantic, laser eyed, Devil Ray make its way out of Challengers Mountain and it's headed towards out title characters and their creator.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Nightwing #67 Review

When A Talon Strikes

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Ronan Cliquet, Nick Filardi, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 18, 2019

Back to Bludhaven we go to check on Ric Grayson now that we've found out that his whole amnesia thing was a plot by the Court of Owls after he got shot to finally acquire they're wayward Talon.  With the planning of Ric's grandfather and William Cobb, we saw our hero forced into brainwashing goggles last issue, where his missing memories of Batman and Robin and pretty much all the Bat Family were replaced by new memories that included William Cobb raising Ric and training him to be the best assassin he could be.  Let's jump into this issue and see how Ric's first Talon assignment goes when he's told to take out his former teammates, the Nightwings.  Let's check it out.

Flash Forward #4 Review

A Wife From Another Life

Written By: Scott Lobdell

Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Luis Guerrero, Troy Peteri

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 18, 2019

Let's head on back into the Multiverse so we can see our former favorite Flash take on the Dark Multiverse infection that is threatening everything that we know and hold dear....... while also trying to find some redemption for Wally West along the way.  Previously we saw our hero going from world to world with his magic Fuginaut stick that was purging the darkness around him and in the background we saw that at the Incursion Point in the Dark Multiverse that Wally's children, Iris and Jai were climbing around giant stone sculptures of the heroes that Wally killed during Heroes In Crisis..... What does that mean?  I have no idea, but let's jump into this issue and see if we're any closer to finding out what's going on in this series and if we're any closer to trusting Wally West again.  Let's check it out.

Teen Titans #37 Review

The Man Behind The Mask

Written By: Adam Glass, Bernard Chang

Art By: Bernard Chang, Scott Hanna, Marcelo Maiolo, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 18, 2019

In the last issue of the Teen Titans we saw our heroes beaten to a pulp by their mind controlled ally, Crush, who's Papa Lobo is calling the shots thanks to an offer from Lex Luthor.  With this new power, Lobo has taken up a new bounty contract with The Other, where he's supposed to deliver the team to their biggest bad of this series, who's been hiding in the shadows this whole time.  Let's jump into this issue and see if the identity of The Other has been worth the wait.  Let's check it out.

Justice League #38 Review

Made in the Shayne

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jorge Jimenez, Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarranm Alejandro Sanchez and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

It's the penultimate issue of the Justice/Doom War and Scott Snyders run on Justice League.  It's been a hell of a ride, but I am hoping he can stick the landing, especially since his departure seemed sudden and in the middle of a huge story.  So, does this issue look like it sets up a great ending?  Let's find out...

Shazam! #9 Review

We Are Family!

Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Marco Santucci, Scott Kolins, Dale Eaglesham, Michael Atiyeh, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

The powers of Shazam have been acting a little wonky lately now that Billy's met his father and with the doors to the Magiclands open and Dr. Sivana and Mr. Mind teaming up, this is probably the worst time this could possibly happen.  In our previous issue though it looks as if the seventh champion was picked by Billy and that person was..... his father.  So let's see what the world of Shazam looks like with Billy and his foster brothers and sisters and his wayward father sharing the power of the living lightning.  Let's check it out.

Batman/Superman #5 Review

Highway to Hell Arisen

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: David Marquez, Alejandro Sanchez, and John J. Hill
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

While I haven't been fully invested in the Infected story and am a bit ticked off that it has hijacked a couple books that aren't the better for it, the main story going on in Batman/Superman has been getting better.  After the crazy cliffhanger of the last issue, I have been wondering what in the hell Batman and Superman are going to do to stop the Batman Who Laughs, but also when is he going to actual break free and join the party.  Well, we find out both of those things this month, but is it done in a good way?  Let's find out...

The Infected: The Commissioner #1 Review

Bury a Friend

Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artist: Jack Herbert
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

It looks like Jim Gordon is one of those first in, last out kind of guys as we saw him get infected before we knew how big a thing that was and now he's bringing up the rear with his own one-shot.  So, does that affect the issue at all and was it worth the wait?  Let's find out...

Doomsday Clock #12 Review

Resetting The Clock

Written By: Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Gary Frank, Brad Anderson

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: December 18, 2019

It's finally here, the end of a two year event that was delayed, changed and taken in and out and then back into continuity throughout the progression of this series, but with all these hiccups in the road to the end, it didn't take away the enjoyment factor of this series in my mind......... Well, maybe some of the delays, but for the most part, enjoyment was had throughout.  We're here now though and it's time to see if Superman destroys Dr. Manhattan or if Dr. Manhattan destroys the Universe.  Let's jump into this issue and see the conclusion to the Doomsday Clock.  Let's check it out.

Batman #85 Review and *SPOILERS*

A Tom King Finale

Written By: Tom King
Art By: Mikel Janin, Hugo Petrus, Jordie Bellaire
Letters By: Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It seems like we’ve been saying it for the past few months, but this book is stumbling at the finish line. Finally, we have arrived at the final issue of Tom King’s run. It has been one of the most divisive runs in recent memory (though Snyder could definitely give him a run for his money). For the most part, I’ve enjoyed his run but this back half of it definitely had more misses than hits. I will still look forward to future books by Tom King but I’m going to be glad to see him off of Batman for a while. (At least the main Batman title). However, until then we still have a final issue of his run and he’s got a lot to tie together. He’s been given some extra pages in order to do so. Let’s jump into our newest issue and see where it takes us.

Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1 Review

The Quick and the Dead

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Steve Epting, Nick Filardi, and Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

This whole Year of the Villian has been anything but "must-read" in my mind, but the biggest problem is that it just doesn't feel like a coherent whole overall.  Sure, we know that Lex presented some offers to sway Earth towards doom, but some of the offers were pretty sketchy, and if you are like me, you've been waiting for that monkey paw reveal to screw everyone over.  I am hoping that Hell Arisen is the straw that stirs this whole Year of the Villain drink and James Tynion is certainly capable of making me care.  Does he start right here?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Steve Epting
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

DC's "Year of the Villain" begins its sinister conclusion! Lex Luthor has brought Perpetua back from her cosmic grave and restored her power! Now the Multiverse lives in fear that she might wipe out all existence. The only thing that could stop her are the forces of the Dark Multiverse- which means it's Luthor's mission to defeat the Batman Who Laughs! But if Batman and Superman couldn't stop him, what chance does Luthor stand? Spinning out of the end of the "Justice/ Doom War" in Justice League #38 and the conclusion of the epic "Infected" arc from Batman/Superman #5, DC's two top villains face off in a battle royal-and the fate of all reality hangs in the balance!

PREVIEW: Justice League #38

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jorge Jimenez
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

"Justice/Doom War" finale! Lex Luthor is triumphant. Perpetua is back to full power and ready to take on the Multiverse, to bend and twist the whole of existence to suit Doom. Has the Justice League finally come up against a foe they can't defeat? Perpetua is the mother of their universe after all, the original creator. In war, there can only be one winner, and it just may be Doom's turn to collect the spoils. This issue leads directly into Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1!

PREVIEW: Legion of Super-Heroes #2

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Ryan Sook
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

It's been one thousand years since anyone has seen the oceans of the Earth, but with Aquaman's original trident recently discovered, a chase to control Earth's future tears across the galaxy. All this and the reunion you'd never thought you'd see! Another DC sci-fi epic into the far-flung future like you've never seen before!

PREVIEW: Batman: Last Knight on Earth #3

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

Gotham City has been remade. Omega reigns supreme. Can Batman finally accomplish what no other hero has and free the world from his dark reflection's shadow? Or is it too late for the recreated Caped Crusader?

PREVIEW: Batman/Superman #5

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: David Marquez
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2019

The Batman Who Laughs has unleashed his Secret Six! Now these infected heroes threaten to spread their dark infection across our world, and the only thing that might stop them is the combined might of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. If they fail, the planet will become the seed that grows a new Dark Multiverse-heroes will fall, villains will rise, and a new era dawns for the DCU in this explosive first arc finale that leads directly into Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #1!

PREVIEW: Batman #85

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin
Cover Price: $4.99 
Release Date: December 18, 2019 

The stunning conclusion to "City of Bane" is here! How will Flashpoint Batman be vanquished from our dimension? What will become of Gotham Girl now that she's betrayed all she knows? How will the Bat team cope without Alfred? Will Catwoman stick around? Who will rebuild Gotham City? Is Batman ever going to be Batman again? The event of the summer now closes out the year, setting the stage for a whole new path for the Dark Knight Detective. You don't dare miss the extra-sized concluding chapter to Tom King's epic run on Batman-and it all leads to the new Batman and Catwoman series! 

PREVIEW: Doomsday Clock #12

Written By: Written By: Geoff Johns

Art By: Gary Frank, Brad Anderson

Cover Price: $5.99

Release Date: December 18, 2019

This is it! The final showdown between Dr. Manhattan and Superman shakes up the DC Universe to its very core! But can even the Man of Steel walk out from the shadow of Manhattan?