Enter The Stunner

The Web #6
Written by Matthew Sturges
Art by Roger Robinson
Co-Feature by John Rozum
Art by Tom Derenick

 

The final page is intriguing – especially if it is not a fake-out but overall I’d say Sturges’s debut as writer of this series was underwhelming. The idea of a machine like the one he hooked up to Generic Blonde in Comics #5 million is too far fetched, even in the DC Universe. I felt like it took me out of the story and was way too easy. I am liking all these introductions of old MLJ Villains and this issue we get Stunner and in the back-up Dead Hand Legendre who looks like an update of the MLJ villain Black Hand (DC probably didn’t want to call him Black Hand so as to not confused people with the Green Lantern villains Black Hand).

The Return of Doctor Aesop

Gotham City Sirens #9
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Guillem March

 

You know what just sucks? I love this book, I mean every time I read it I smile on every page and get really into the story. Yet people are not reading it. Read it people! How could you not read a book featuring Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn?! It has gorgeous art and laugh-out-loud moments come on! Not to mention this issue feature Doctor Aesop – apparently not dead! Who you say? Well, he was a character from one issue of  Dini’s Detective Comics run that I was very upset  was killed off because he seemed like such a great addition to the Batman Rogue’s Gallery. Dini apparently agreed and brought him back here. Dini knows how to create great villains and shows this once again in this issue.

This Blew Me Away

Black Lantern Green Arrow #30
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenis Nevis

This issue marks Krul’s first issue on this title and already he has improved the book 300%! This was a tremenous issue as we follow Green Arrow stuck as a Black Lantern – and hurting his family members. The things Black Lantern Green Arrow says are downright nasty but they come from inside Ollie’s mind. Does this mean that Ollie really thinks those things? No but everyone has had mean thoughts about people they love and regretted it. I think that is what makes it so powerful. I can’t say enough about how good this is. The art was beautiful! I hope this guy is staying on the book! Speedy is back in her red costume and that makes me happy. Why was she in that black and yellow costume for the last year anyways?! Great stuff and probably one of the best Blackest Night tie-ins there has been.

Azrael Meets Ragman

Azrael (Volume 2) #5
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Ramon Baches

 

The conflict between Palestinians and Isreali’s is a pretty weighty issue for a comic but Nicieza pulls it off qutie well in this fantastic issue. This book has blown my mind. I never expected it to be this good. I am surprised I did not think of an Azrael-Ragman team-up before. It seems so obvious since they are both mystical heroes, based in religion, that operate out of Gotham. The both even are powered by the suits they wear which contains souls. Good stuff.

Missing In Dakota

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #80
Written by Felecia D. Henderson
Art by Joe Bennet and Eduardo Pansica
Co-Feature by Sean McKeever
Art by Yildiray Cinar

 

What is with DC’s editors lately? This issue contained another panel of misplace word balloons! It really took me out of the story and got me confused. That is no good. Not to mention the facial expressions don’t seem to match what people are saying half the time which has been a problem with this book for a while. Henderson’s dialogue is kinda awkward but I can’t say that I did not enjoy the story and she had me convinced that Holocaust had become a hero of Dakota. I wonder why the Titans aren’t looking for Kid Eternity…I mean he is the one who is really missing but they are freaking out that Static went out for a bit in this issue. I wonder if the Kid Eternity thing will ever be addressed. Hmm. The Ravager back-up once again shows how much McKeever gets the character of Rose Wilson so that was good.

Odd Arrangement

Superman #697
Written by James Robinson
Art by Bernard Chang

 

The Legion makes its presence known to Mon-El and Superboy in this issue. I love the idea that the Legion has been in the past for so long, I mean at least since Countdown and the Lightning Saga. This was a good issue I enjoyed it a lot but I was confused by the whole scene at the Kent Farm. Was that supposed to be a flashback? If so, what was the purpose? It seemed kind of odd the way those scenes were arranged not sure how to explain it.

Return Of The Fourth Reich

Justice Society of America #36
Written by Bill Willingham
Art by Jesus Merino

 

The Fourth Reich from Johns’s run return to attack the Justice Society again in this issue, this time most of the villain team consisted of old Archie Comics villains which was a cool and a nice way of showing how the Archie characters have become a part of the DC Universe. I wonder about each of these characters as they are rather interesting villains. No I don’t think the future predicted will come to pass or that Alan Scott is really dead, but anyways, this was good stuff. Willingham’s run has been a blast so far!

Morrison’s Conclusions Are Always Better Than His Beginnings

Batman and Robin #9
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Cameron Stewart

I have to say the conclusion of this three-part arc here is the best issue of the arc so far. Dick finally gives a reason for trying to throw what he thought was Bruce’s body into the lazarus pit, but I still find it to be pretty weak reasoning and not like the character at all but whatever. Dick’s relationship with Batwoman is fun and I like that he kinda has a crush on her – but we all know nothing can come of it. Damian kicked major ass from his wheelchair Babs Gordon-style and in the end the fake Batman falls apart. The last page was exciting for any Batman fan. Bruce is alive and we have to find him!

Peace And Love

Wonder Woman (Volume 3) #41
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Chris Batista and Fernando Dagnino

 

Can I just say that Gail Simone should stay on Wonder Woman, give Morrison or Rucka a new Wonder Book and keep Simone here. She understands the character tremendously. Power Girl’s inner dialogue about Diana pretty much showed that. Wonder Woman is more then fighting (although she is a great fighter) she is inspirational and full of love. Power Girl needed to channel Diana in order to stop the hatred consuming Washington D.C. I hope these Crow Children come back soem day because they were some damn scary Wonder Woman villains. The scenes with Etta and Steve Trevor were very suspenseful and Diana saves the day once again! Great issue! Plus The Olympian finding the reincarnation of his lover again warmed by big gay heart.

At Least The Question Has No Eyes And Doesn’t Have To See This Art

 

The Question #37
Written by Greg Rucka and Denny O’Neil
Art by Denys Cowan

Better late than never, this is my review of the Question resurrected for an issue. I never read O’Neil’s Question series but I have heard good things….I don’t know if I want to read it after reading this issue. The story was good and it looks like Vic Sage has a much more interesting back-story then I thought but the fact of the matter is I can not stand the art, it kills my eyes. I know that will make me unpopular around the blogosphere but I hope that Cowan wasn’t this awful when this series was around.

Membership

Justice League of America #42
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

Robinson’s Justice League run continues to impress me. I am liking the dynamic of the new team and Bagley’s art. These villains aren’t rather interesting but we shall see what comes of them. Are Black Canary and Ray Palmer now members again? They are just there and this is never explained which is kinda annoying. It looks like Red Tornado is still a member although not functional but I think it makes perfect sense for Cyborg to try to help him in the way that he is. Still wish Hal wasn’t on the team but whatever it is just great to have a good JLA comic again!

Giant Green Hammer

Magog #6
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Howard Porter

 

Magog shows how unlikable he is on every page of this comic where he fights the Justice Society and finally gets kicked off their team. Thank God! It was about time they booted this loser. I loved seeing Alan Scott smash him with a giant green hammer!

A Whole Lot Of Nothing

Batman: Streets of Gotham #9
Written by Mike Benson
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Jeremy Haun

Meh…the main story bored me still but at least it wasn’t as bad as the first part where Jim Gordon was making jokes about dead bodies. Can’t wait for Dini to be back. The Manhunter back-up was decent but not as good as it has been in the past just more of Kate prosecuting Two-Face. The Huntress is in her “I am going to bare my stomach for no apparent reason” costume again and I do not like that but whatever.

Satanna And Her Sonic Boom Hammer

Power Girl (Volume 2) #9
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Amanda Connor

While I miss Vartox already, this was another good issue of Power Girl. Satanna arrives with her animal circuis and a sonic boom hammer. Really…just about anything can happen in this book. You gotta love it! The beginning was only so-so with PeeGee running with a towel. I mean do we need any more cheesecake jokes in this book?But it was an enjoyable issue.

Where is Halo?!

Outsiders (Volume 4) #27
Written by Dan Didio
Art by Don Kramer

 

Didio oh Didio! Why do you write such bad dialogue? Do we need to make fun of you even more then we already do? Black Lightning final line in this issue was so lame. Geo-Force and Katana are acting really strange still (I am hoping that there is going to be an in-story reason for this) and there is no fucking mention or anything of Halo?! Where did she go? Did someone forget about her? What is going on with this book? Where is Phillip Tan, how are we needing a fill-in artist already? Why is this guy in charge of DC Comics when he can’t even keep things together on this one book? Yes it was cool to see classic Outsiders villains the Masters of Disaster and I like the continuity references but this issue is just soo bad. Why is Owlman referring to Blackest Night as Blackest Night? Why not the time where everyone became Black Lanterns? Didio is writing him as if he is aware that it was a comic mini-series called Blackest Night! This is awful. Just awful.

Fifty Issues And Still No Mention of Linda Danvers! Come On!

Supergirl (Volume 5) #50
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle
Co-Feature by Helen Slater
Art by Cliff Chaing

 

The main feature of this book was Supergirl vs. Lana as Insect Queen. I liked that we fast forwarded a few days later and Supergirl is now a prisoner of the hive, and is rescued by Gangbuster and Doctor Light. But Kara takes down the Queen way too easily for a story that has been building for so long. I have a feeling this was rushed due to the New Krypton storyline which is kind of a shame. Kare’s reaction and anger toward Lana seems like her old self and that is kind of annoying so I don’t know how I feel about this issue just yet. The Helen Slater written back-up was a neat little look at the history of this Supergirl and I rather enjoyed it. But damn…I thought in 50 issues Linda Danvers, the previous Supergirl, could have been mentioned somewhere!

Meh

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #51
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke

 

The Black Lantern Spectre is defeated and Hal is no longer Parallax is one issue. This all seemed to be just stalling for the fight against Nekron and it bored me. There were some cool moments, none of which featured Hal Jordan of course, but otherwise it was just a waste. Mahnke’s art seemed really rushed too.