New comics

New comics!

Batgirl 6

So the first arc ends, and it turns out what I thought was a miniseries is now an ongoing.  I’m not sure if I’m going to stick around; As with Kelly Thompson’s Birds of Prey, I want to like this more than I actually do.  The pieces are there, but it’s just not clicking.  Maybe one more issue.

Absolute Superman 6

We find out how the Kents fit into the Absolute universe.  And in a haunting, harrowing twist, Kal-El was essentially in solitary confinement for seventeen months on the journey from Krypton to Earth.  No cryosleep.  He just about went crazy from the isolation.

Absolute Green Lantern 1

As with the rest of Absolute Wave 2, not as strong as the first batch.  But I’ll stick around for at least a little longer.

Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell 1

Charles Soule and Steve McNiven do their Dark Knight Returns spin on Matt Murdock.  McNiven channels Kaare Andrews circa Iron Fist: Living Weapon, which is just fine by me.  

Battle Action 4-5

Nothing new to say about these.  Serviceable, I’ll keep supporting Garth Ennis doing war comics.

Big Burn 3

I can’t remember the last time a comic brought such a broad smile to my face;  The final scene is absolutely pitch perfect, I loved it so much.  Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett continue to be one of the top creative teams out there.

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.

New comics

New comics!

Scarlett 3

This reads like a great Chuck Dixon action comic.  Lots of fun.

Uncanny X-Men 266

I picked up a reprint of the first appearance of Gambit because it fills a tiny gap in my Uncanny run.  It’s really not a good issue; Mike Collins’ art pretty much ruins any good times.  Remy LeBeau’s lucky that Jim Lee started drawing him almost immediately, or he may not have lasted very long on the roster.

Fantastic Four 22

Not the strongest issue, but I love the setup at the end; Apparently the events in the main Blood Hunt issues have led to Doctor Doom saving the day and earning the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme.  Excellent.  This sounds like Norman Osborne becoming the head of SHIELD, only fun.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1

I like the Turtles, but I’m only picking this up because of the A+ creative team of Jason Aaron and Joelle Jones.  Holy crap, that’s an amazing lineup.  (It’s not going to last, because it sounds like they’re going with a different artist with each issue, but they’re only going with winners.  I’ll be sticking around for this twelve-issue maxi.)

Ultimate Spider-Man 7

Peter and Harry test out their suits against each other.  They both make idiotic choices when imbuing their suit AI with personalities.  (Peter chooses himself, Harry opts for his father.)  I still can’t believe Jonathan Hickman is writing something this fun and coherent.

Wonder Woman 11

Useless Absolute Power tie-in.  Damian becomes a Swiftie in the hilarious backup.

 

Zatanna: Bring Down the House 2

Mostly a fight scene.  It’s fine, and it’s not like I’m going to stop buying this.

Transformers 10

Once again, I feel like I should be loving this way more than I am.  It’s great on every level but the emotional one.

Uncanny Valley 4

I’d stop buying this if there weren’t only 2 issues left; The concept is far more interesting than the execution.

Get Fury 3

More set up.  

Nightwing 116

Not the best Tom Taylor Nightwing story, but it’s fun, and I love the reveal at the end, as ridiculous as it looks.

Batman: Dark Age 4

Continues to be a fun Elseworlds.

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter 1

I wasn’t going to get this, given that the original series was one of Tom Taylor’s weaker efforts, and he isn’t even the writer on this.  (I’ve never heard of Jay Kristoff.)  Imagine my surprise when this take on Deathstroke was immensely entertaining!  I’m in.

Big Burn 1

The second title I’ve gotten from new publisher Dstlry.  I bought this on the strength of Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett’s previous collaborations, knowing absolutely nothing else about it.  Turns out it’s Ocean’s Eleven in Hell.  Great elevator pitch and even better execution.  I’m skeptical about the Devil being actually blind to what’s going on, but we’ll see how it pans out.