The Life And Times Of Captain Boomerang

The Flash (Volume 3) #7
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Scott Kolins

Captain Boomerang reflects on his life as he frees the Reverse-Flash from prison. This was by far the best issue of this book to date…probably because it focuses on the Rogues instead of boring old Barry Allen. Boomerang’s entire history is dealt with, even stuff I didn’t know about like his childhood, but meeting his son is curiously left out. Perhaps Johns just didn’t want to deal with it. Seems odd. But anyways, this was definitely a great issue and it makes me look forward to Wally caming back in the next arc.

Fallen For This Book

Action Comics #895
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods
Co-Feature by Nick Spencer
Art by RB Silva

I have seriously fallen in love with Action Comics. This is a book starring Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen. I never would have guessed I would be loving it this much but I have to say that this book has stole my heart. Everything about it is good. The Jimmy back-up was hilarious. The Lex story made great use of continuity. In other words, buy it.

Timing

The Flash (Volume 3) #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

The opening arc of Barry Allen’s return to the Flash comes to the end with this issue as the Big villain turns out to the the future version of the Top and it’s a decent ending. I just expected bigger…and the something is wrong with time thing just kind of annoyed me. I hope Flashpoint doesn’t fuck with continuity again. I want to see Wally West soon!

The Breaking Of The Mirror

The Flash (Volume 3) #5
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

 

Okay this was a good issue…finally something happens as the Mirror breaks, the Flash may have been betrayed by The Top from the future (which I didn’t see coming at all) and it looks like Iris is in trouble or something…I am not sure. But am I the only one who thinks it would be cool if Iris ended up becoming Barry’s greatest enemy as The Top says will supposedly happen?? It would certainly make Barry Allen a more interesting character (Because he isn’t interesting at all). But still waiting for Wally here.

Looking Glass

The Flash (Volume 3) #4
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

 

We find out the truth in this issue about why the Renegades are after the Flash and it actually makes sense why he would kill Mirror Monarch. That was cool but otherwise I am still bored with the character of Barry Allen and the art seemed rushed and muddled in this issue. I am curious to see more of these Mirror Lords though.

Yawn

The Flash (Volume 3) #3
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul and Scott Kollins

 

Wow this was rather uninteresting for a comic that is supposed to be about speed I feel like this arc is going very slow. We just get more Flash versus the Renegades from the future still blaming him for the murder of Mirror Monarch. Still no Wally or Bart or Jay and we see that Captain Boomerang is able to manifest Boomerangs due to once being a black lantern. Yawn.

Back-Tracking The Flash

The Flash (Volume 3) #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

 

Well…that was…underwealming. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this…the debut of the new Flash series (The third relaunch of the Flash since I launched this blog) starring boring old Barry Allen. Wally West will always be the Flash to me but I at least like seeing Barry to react how things have changed since his death and the relationship with Iris. Manapul’s art really worked for Smallville in Adventure Comics but I wish he would go back to his Legion-style art work instead of the water colors for this book. The water colors just don’t work for Central City. I really wanted to see Wally in this book, and I think that is why I felt completely underwhelmed. I like the fleshing out of Barry’s supporting cast at the lab and all that but I want Wally and Linda and the kids and Bart and all of them. The idea of the rogues from the future also doesn’t really interest me but we will see where it goes. I don’t know maybe I am still bitter about Barry coming back but I just could not get excited about this.

Catwoman 69 – 82

Catwoman (Volume 3) #69
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

This side story to Amazon’s Attack is actually better then the main series, which isn’t saying much, but this was a good issue. I liked Batman having a car seat in the batmobile! He really does plan for everything. The art is gorgeous as ever too.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #70
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Hmmm I am not sure what happened on that last page. Where is Selina taking her baby? But this was a damn good issue….I loved how Selina kicked that Amazon’s ass and tricked her. Very good stuff.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #71
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Now Selina faking her own death has been done before…in fact one of the first comics I ever bought featured such a story…but this was really good and I loved Bruce’s involvement. It’s sad that it looks like Selina will be giving away her baby, but the kid has been in so many close-calls it probably is the right thing to do.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #72
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

I gotta be honest…I almost cried during this issue. A mother giving away her only child must be the hardest thing in the world. I thought she was going to go through with it and have Zatanna wipe away her memory of Helena because it was too hard. I suppose one day some writer will bring Helena back into Selina’s life, but for now I guess she has to live with knowing she will never see her daughter again. Very sad.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #69
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Not sure if I recognize the guy at the end of this issue but this was another fun issue of Catwoman. I love the idea of a billionaire who collects super-villain memorabilia and I love what Catwoman did with the Joker Explodie-hand. Lopez’s art is underrated, he really knows how to tell stories from fantastic different angles along with amazing facial expressions.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #74
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

It looks like Catwoman is going to be taken to the prison planet from Salvation Run. I look forward to that. But this issue was as good as always, I hope the whole thing with The Thief gets resolved eventually. Oh and seeing her get her old hair back was a geek out moment for me.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #75
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

This issue actually makes me want to read Salvation Run as it is fun to see all the villains interact; especially Catwoman and Cheetah who make an interesting paring. Pfieffer writes Luthor pretty well but I prefer my Luthor to be a little less…er…I don’t know, Supervillain-ish. I guess I always liked the Luthor as Evil Corporate guy thing but at least he isn’t in that stupid suit freaking Loeb brought back.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #76
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

I like how Selina recaps what has gone on before in her head most issues and in this issue because it helps new readers a while lot. Lopez’s drawing of the alternate Catwoman looks similar to the costume warn by Halle Barry in that awful movie, and I bet that was intentional. Speaking of Lopez, why is this guy not on a book like JLA! He does great art and does it on time! Come on DC!

Catwoman (Volume 3) #77
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

I liked this issue more because it makes me sad to see Martian Manhunter then anything else. What a great character that we lost this year. I hope he comes back. But yes, the story and art were good as usual as Catwoman escapes from her pseudo-dream thingamagiger.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #78
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Eh this seemed like a sort’ve unnecessary issue, I think I am getting sick of the Salvation Run plot but she will be back to earth next issue so that is good. It was good to see Slam Bradley again and I wonder what he will think when he finds out Selina gave Helena away.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #79
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

This was a good issue and I really get the feeling that we are going to get the old Catwoman back. It was good to be back on earth as well. But as for Slam, you would think he would ask her more questions about his granddaughter, wouldn’t you?

Catwoman (Volume 3) #80
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

The eightieth issue brings Catwoman back to the way I like her, the real feline fatale. She is one bitch you don’t want to mess with and “The Thief” learns that the hard way this issue. Awesome.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #81
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Catwoman return to her full-time criminal career in this penultimate issues and it was fantastic! I liked how Lopez used the windows in the building to show flashbacks.

Catwoman (Volume 3) #82
Written by Will Pfieffer
Art by David Lopez

Sadly, this is the final issue of Catwoman, but it could not have ended in a better way! The series has been brought full circle, touching on things that go all the way back to the Brubaker run, Catwoman is back to being a thief and having Batman chasing her across rooftops and I think there is no other way they could have ended this series effectively.

I Will Miss You Bart

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #13
Written by Mark Guggenheim
Art by Tony Daniel

Normally I would be like oh no why did they kill such a great character. But Guggenheim writes such an amazing final issue for the Fastest Man Alive that all thoughts like that were thrown out the door. I was honest-to-god sad seeing Bart die. His time as the Flash was tragically short, and as bad as this series was at first it has become really good lately. The rogues are certainly going to pay for what they have done. Bart was loved by a lot of heroes. Seeing Robin’s reaction to hearing the news is what got me the most. Tim has endured so much lately and the way that Daniel draws his reaction is just perfect. While I think the character was just annoying as Impulse, DC has done a great job of making Bart a great hero these last few years and I was so happy to see him honored the way he was over in Countdown. He got one of the best comic book funerals ever there. I am glad to have Wally back but I will miss you Bart. Rest in Peace.

Ten Atomic Bombs!

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #12
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Tony Daniel

Guggenheim writes the most suspenseful issue of this series yet. The ticking clock on this cover is symbolic of its pages inside. MY heart raced (no pun intended) for Bart this issue. I don’t know much about the Black Flash or what this means for Bart and I don’t know how Iris and Valerie are going to solve the problem of ten atomic bombs possibly hitting Los Angeles (Or the power of ten atomic bombs) but I am hoping they deal with it. The Rogues have absolutely fucked up this time. I am liking how this series and Teen Titans have really upped Inertia, not that I knew anything about the character before, but it seems now he has become this Flash’s archenemy. He is a pain in the Flash’s side constantly and I hate him, and to hate a villain means he is a great villain. Albeit, it doesn’t look like Inertia is going to be around much longer considering he is holding the power of ten atomic bombs inside of him.

Flash 9 – 11

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #9
Written by Mark Guggenheim
Art by Ron Adrian and Art Thibert

New writer Mark Guggenheim begins his run on the Flash this issue and it is a total 180 from this title’s first run. From the get go, Guggenheim shows that his run is going to be good. Now, I have accepted Bart as the Flash for a while now, but for those who haven’t, I think Guggenheim will open their mind to Bart. This issue relected a lot on Bart’s past but at the same time moved the character forward and was a great jumping on point for readers. Bart decided not to join the titans nor the Justice League until he is ready and I think that was a good idea. Great issue.

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #10
Written by Mark Guggenheim
Art by Ron Adrian and Art Thibert

Well, this was another great issue by Guggenheim, who seems to be redeeming this series to its former greatness. I really enjoyed this. Bart in Police Academy is really fun and cool. I loved his detective work on this issue as well. The last issue was pretty surprising, particularly if you are familiar with the character of Iris Allen. And it is soooo nice to see the Rogues again.

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #11
Written by Mark Guggenheim
Art by Ron Adrian and Art Thibert

So Inertia is gathering the rogue’s together to destroy the Flash and to build a machine time? It may not seem like the greatest plot but Guggenheim handles it very well and makes it pretty exciting. Especially the last page, which is pretty shocking but not totally surprising. The Flashes have a history of revealing their identities to the public, but I wonder if this time it will stick or if it will go the way of Wally West’s secret identity? Who knows? All I know is that this story looks like it is going to be a roller coaster ride of fun.