New comics

New comics!

Plastic Man No More! 2-3

I thought this was going to be a redemptive story, Plastic Man pulling himself back together both literally and figuratively.  Instead, it’s about Eel O’Brian’s continuing downward trajectory as things just get worse and worse.  He’s constantly making bad choices, excusing them in the name of a greater purpose.  He’s lost his way, and while it makes for an interesting character study, it’s not that fun to read.  Great execution by Christopher Cantwell and Alex Lins, though.

Birds of Prey 12-15

Yes, yes, I dropped this because the story arc was crap.  Still true, but iFanboy gave the new arc a good review (starting w/ issue 14), and there was a sale at my LGS.  Man, I really hate the Worlds Without End arc.  But this new one is admittedly a lot better, so I might stick around for it, on a month-by-month basis.  

Absolute Superman 1

It’s funny-not-funny that the Absolute title I was most interested in (the only one I preordered) is the weakest one.  It doesn’t resonate the way the Wonder Woman and Batman comics do, but I trust Jason Aaron.  Though on second thought, his last Superman work was pretty horrible.  (Hate Bizarro!)  Going to give it at least another month.

Batman: Long Halloween: Last Halloween 2

Klaus Janson may be a legend, but his art does less than nothing for me.  I do not enjoy looking at it.  I’m inches away from cutting this.  The story is completely forgettable.  (Jeph Loeb has fallen so far in my estimation.)

DC vs Vampires: World War V 4

Another chapter in an entertaining story, but not much more to say.

Absolute Batman 2

This is so fun.  Nick Dragotta is channeling Dave Mazzucchelli, and Scott Snyder is at the top of his game.

Helen of Wyndhorn 6

Tom King and Bilquis Evely wrap up another super successful team up.  Beautifully drawn and written.  Only the framing story w/ the cassette tapes is an utter fail, and the ending is completely anticlimactic and disappointing.  

Batman: Dark Age 6

I think I read this more out of morbid fascination than anything else.  Mike Allred’s art is so compelling in its ugliness.  And the story by Mark Russell doesn’t suck.

Big Burn 2

Not as good as the first issue, but still entertaining.  And the final page reveal is obvious but effective at moving things along.

Aliens vs Avengers 1-2

This future dystopia is stunningly generic, and it’s Jonathan Hickman at his cold, emotionless worst.  Esad Ribic does what he can, and the Alien IP is strong, so I’m still in.

Rainbow Rowell She-Hulk

She-Hulk 1-15

Sensational She-Hulk 1-10

I picked up these five trades at my LCS’s annual Halloween sale.  Not sure why I didn’t pick up this Rainbow Rowell run while it was coming out, but I’m sure happy to have the opportunity to read it now.  This is delightful in every way, with a wonderful rotation of artists, each perfectly suited to capture She-Hulk’s power and sexiness.  

New comics

New comics!

Detective Comics 1090

So this is where Tom Taylor went after finishing off Nightwing.  And with Mikel Janin, most recently seen by me doing a drive-by on Wonder Woman.  Hopefully he stays longer than the one? two? issues he lasted that time.

Taylor kicks things off w/ a massive retcon; Thomas Wayne once saved Joe Chill’s life on the operation table.  Dun dun DUN!  Doesn’t feel necessary, but there’s no question of me sticking around.

Babs 3

A lot more fun than the previous issue, where I had dropped the title from my pull list.  (Too late to keep this from making it into my box.)  Not enough for me to bring it back, I think.

Zatanna: Bring Down the House 5

The plot’s been a bore for the entire story, but the character moments and art have sparkled throughout.  It averages out to an above average effort from Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez.

Absolute Wonder Woman 1

I’ve never heard of artist Hayden Sherman, but this is stunning work.  Kelly Thompson has me intrigued with this take on Diana, and the unanticipated Absolute line at DC is now two for two.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3

Cliff Chiang is the next top shelf artist to draw this title.  It’s Leonardo’s turn for Jason Aaron’s treatment.  This is super fun.

Plastic Man No More! 1

Christopher Cantwell puts a human face on the happy go lucky hero, forcing him to deal with his mortality in a world where no one takes him seriously.  I don’t read all of Cantwell’s work, but I’m always impressed when I do.

Jenny Sparks 1-3

Not Tom King’s best work.  I’m not digging the “Captain Atom-as-immature-Doctor-Manhattan” hostage situation, and Jenny Sparks isn’t much more than an attitude right now.  At least this is a shorter series.

New comics

Scarlett 5

This didn’t end as strongly as it started, and I’m not sure if I’ll pick up any more of the Energon Universe’s GI Joe stories, but I don’t regret getting this.

Zatanna: Bring Down the House 4

I love how Mariko Tamaki writes Constantine and Zatanna together, and I love how Javier Rodriguez draws them together.  If only I liked the plot more, it’s pretty weak.  

Batman: Long Halloween: Last Halloween 1

I can’t decide if I like this or not.  I’m erring on the side of buying the rest of it, but I’m definitely not sure about this call.

Get Fury 6

Sigh.  Not one of Garth Ennis’ finest.  Is this his first complete fail w/ a Punisher story?

Catwoman 69

I picked this off of the shelf entirely due to Fabiana Mascolo’s stunning new Catwoman costume.  I love it.  I might even get it again next month.  

Nightwing 118

What a wonderful, delightful run by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo.  I hope these two team up again in the future.  (And I really hope the next creature team keep Bitewing and Barbara around.  Not that I’m going to stick around to find out.)

Absolute Batman 1

Apparently not an Elseworlds, just a parallel universe or something.  Whatever it is, Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have created a gripping new take that I’m totally here for.

Wonder Woman 12-14

There’s so much that I don’t buy: Diana’s heart-to-heart with Damian.  Her constant smooching with Steve Trevor in the middle of combat situations.  Steve Trevor’s death.  But all of it still works, it has to work.  Because this story isn’t possible  if Wonder Woman isn’t the main character.  It’s hard to explain. 

New comics

As always, so far behind.

DC vs Vampires: World War V 1-3

More of the same, which is a fun Elseworlds.  It’s starting off a lot better than the previous series ended; a lot more coherent w/ the action, and plenty of excellent twists.  (Alfred the Green Lantern is chef’s kiss.)

Babs 2

Jacen Burrows has become a Steve Dillon clone, probably why Garth Ennis loves working w/ him so much.  Not bad, but I definitely was not excited to see it in my pull list.  Taking it off.  

Ultimate Spider-Man 9-10

I’m really enjoying this now.  Probably because it feels like a strong Bendis book.  Jonathan Hickman continues to impress me with how much this doesn’t read like his usual style.

Batman and Robin: Year One 1

I picked this up because Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are always worth a try.  It’s a solid effort, but I just don’t care enough to want to read more.  It doesn’t stand out in any way.

Jupiter’s Legacy: Finale 1

Picked this up because my LCS automatically added it to my sub.  But it’s still a good read, and I might as well finish it out.  (I’ve definitely cooled on Mark Millar; I’m not getting the new Prodigy series, for example, even though the first arc was entertaining.)

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter 3-4

Still gorgeous art by Tirso.  And the backup story by Tom Taylor has a delightful twist where the Kents end up raising another super-powered orphan.  (It’s Arthur Curry.)

Fantastic Four 26

Ryan North pairs up Johnny and Reed in a funny little adventure where Mr Fantastic justifies his actions by pointing out that, “Again, if I could draw your attention to how the dread Mongaroth is not charnelly destroying any mortal flesh at the present.”  Completely insubstantial, but totally happy to be reading it.

Helen of Wyndhorn 5

Helen’s governess proves her quality as this excellent fantasy romp continues.  Sad that there’s only one issue remaining.

Deadly Class

Deadly Class 27-56

I was checking out the graphic novel section of the Cupertino Library, and saw the entire run right there on the shelf.  I own up to issue 26, and while I stopped buying after that, I always wanted to read the rest.  Perfect opportunity.  

Everything I wrote before still stands; Marcus is an insufferable, pretentious prick, and I was all too happy to skip his interminable inner monologues.  Luckily, Rick Remender’s plotting continues to grab me by the throat and force me to keep reading.  The action scenes by Wes Craig really are some of the best ever.  

I’m not hooked enough to buy these trades right now, but if I ever get the hankering to read them again, I’d probably go ahead and make the purchase.  I’m glad I pulled all of these off the bookcase.

New Comics

More new comics!

Batman: Dark Age 5

This is still not bad, but I’ve pretty much lost all interest.  Only one issue to go.

Jenny Sparks 1

This fits in the “starts off a bit incomprehensible” camp of Tom King’s books.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2

Jason Aaron’s really nailing it.  It’s a very generic “I have everything that I want now that I’m rich and famous, why am I so unhappy?” story.  (Listen to Britney Spears’ Lucky.)  I suppose mixing in ninja and diamond nunchaku separates it from all the others 🙂

Transformers 12

This story arc ends, and I’m done with the title as well.  A month after saying I’m going to stick around for the full 24 issues, I’m tapping out.  It’s missing something.  Can’t explain it, but it’s definitely lacking something crucial.

Helen of Wyndhorn 4

So effing good.  This is why I love Tom King.  And he collaborates so well with Bilquis Evely.

Zatanna: Bring Down the House 3

I know it’s magic and all, but this is getting too psychedelic for my taste.  Still, the art by Javier Rodriguez is good, and maybe Mariko Tamaki can turn it around.  The arrival of John Constantine is a promising addition.

Fantastic Four 23-25

I so wish that Ryan North’s excellent run was paired with a better artist than the perfectly fine Carlos Gomez.  North’s scripts don’t always land perfectly, but the originality of the ideas deserves pencils of equal quality.