New Comics

That’s the end of a shortened Misc Box 7!

Box Summary:

Time spent reading: 5 hours, 47 minutes

Issues read: 61

Issues cut: 0

Highlights (Good or better): Wizard’s Tale

Project Summary:

Time spent reading: 23 days, 21 hours, 7 minutes

Issues read: 4700

Issues cut: 598

New comics from the past two weeks!

Punisher: Soviet 3

More Garth Ennis war stories.  Punisher shows up for 11 mostly wordless panels.  He’s always been a good listener.

Hawkeye: Freefall 1

I like Matt Rosenberg from his Hawkeye/Winter Soldier miniseries.  Otto Schmidt I like from the art he posts on Twitter. Their combined effort is a ton of fun, and I’m in for more.

Lois Lane 7

Another clunker, the second in the past four issues.  Pair that with a so-so issue 6, and I’m seriously doubting the likelihood that I pick this up anymore.  

Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity 2

Still enjoying Harley as a criminal profiler.  Not seeing how she falls in love with this version of the Joker (as opposed to the superb Harleen, where her fall was preordained from the start), and I’d be pleased if Garcia doesn’t go down that predictable route and tries something different.

Black Cat 1-5

I picked up the trade after reading some strong reviews.  J. Scott Campbell’s lovely covers don’t hurt either. (Though let’s be clear, I don’t buy comics based on the covers.)  Jed MacKay writes a thoroughly entertaining and fun title, and Travel Foreman mixes in a strong dose of humor with some excellent storytelling.  Definitely getting the next collection.

Heh.  MacKay would write a fun Dr Strange.

Really like the way Foreman draws Felicia leaning on her hand.

Heh.

Batman 70-74

Batman Secret Files 2

Eh, not feeling this trade as much.  I’m already pot committed, so I’ll be finishing out Tom King’s run regardless.  But alternate universe Thomas Wayne doesn’t interest me, and I’ve never liked stories where no one believes the hero.  So, meh. That said, Mikel Janin still draws a gorgeous page.

Perfect staging and sizing of the characters in the scene.

Same thing here.

Love a good Batgirl.

Batman, Superman/Shazam: First Thunder

Batman 58-60

Batman Annual 3

Batman Secret Files 1

The ninth Tom King Batman trade.  Batman discovers that Bane’s passivity is an act, and that he’s secretly running Arkham Asylum from within.  No one, not even Jim Gordon, believes him, which leads to Batman punching the commissioner in the face. It’s a little far-fetched, considering the history and trust between the two long-time friends.  The trade only gives us three issues of story, so there’s not much to judge.

Secret Files is an anthology issue, much like Batman 1000, and it’s just as meh.

Batman Annual 3 is exceptional.  It’s an Alfred-centric story, showing the things he does and has done for Bruce since the fateful night he got the phone call telling him the Waynes had been murdered.  It’s touching and full of heartfelt emotion. Superb work by Tom Taylor and Otto Schmidt.

Superman/Shazam: First Thunder

Judd Winick and Joshua Middleton give us the story of Superman and Captain Marvel’s first meeting.  I’ve never been a Billy Batson fan. The “child in an adult body” angle doesn’t do anything for me, and I’m unlikely to watch the movie when it comes out later this week.  (Thinking about the similarities between Shazam and Big, I would have loved to see Tom Hanks from the 80s play the role.  I love Zachary Levi, but I don’t buy him in the part. Though I suspect a lot has to do with the padded suit.  It looks ridiculous.)

Too much suspension required.

So the story itself is fine.  Standard team up against Sivana.  (Which does yield a great line from an exasperated henchman:)

But the ending gives me chills every time I read it.  The compassion and trust that Clark shows Billy, who can clearly use a friend and mentor at a very difficult time in his life, gives me goosebumps.

That scene alone merits this miniseries the Major Feels rating, moving it out of my usual grading system.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Major Feels