Brave and the Bold 7 – 19

Brave and the Bold #7
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Perez

Waid and Perez start their second arc with team-up of Wonder Woman and Power Girl….Wonder Woman’s “perfection” is portrayed against Power Girl’s crazed anger in this issue and I have to say it rings untrue. Power Girl is the leader of the JSA, yet her emotions are all over the place like a teenager this issue and I just see that as a little out of character. Besides this, this was a good issue that sets up the new threat…Megistus. And Perez’s art is as beautiful as ever.

Brave and the Bold #8
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Perez

This issue sees The Flash and the Doom Patrol team up when Wally takes his kids to be “fixed” by Dr. Niles Caulder. I love how creepy the Doom Patrol are and they should be used more often around the DCU. I am not sure why Caulder has gray hair here, as usually it is red I think. This was a good issue.

Brave and the Bold #9
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Perez

Eh…I really could care less about any of the characters in this issue besides Hawkman and the Atom…so besides those last few pages I was totally bored with this issue.

Brave and the Bold #10
Written by Mark Waid
Art by George Perez

While the first part with Superman and Silent Knight was kinda boring…it was cool to see the old Teen Titans team up with Aquaman. Oh and it is good to see that Perez hasn’t forgotten that Aqualad looks like a boy instead of a weird fish-boy like over in Teen Titans: Year One. This series is becoming too much of an homage to the silver age. Let’s bring in some modern age characters!

Brave and the Bold #11
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Jerry Ordway

Superman and Ultraman from the anti-matter earth team-up when the anti-matter Mxyzptlk tells them of a disaster that will effect both earths. This explains what Megistus is doing and who he is. While I look forward to next issue’s conclusion, this story arc is taking way too long. At least this issue wasn’t silver agey. Ordway’s art is always welcome and the perfect artist to replace Perez.

Brave and the Bold #12
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Jerry Ordway

This concludes the Megistus arc where a lot of heroes team up and take on Megistus. In the end, it is June who saves the day and becomes a challenger in her own right. Megistus was not that scary or interesting of a villain as you think he would be after so many issue of build up but I did enjoy this issue. The foreshadowing of Final Crisis is interesting as Megistus says it will change everything. Interesting.

Brave and the Bold #13
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Jerry Ordway

I remember listening to Mark Waid’s interview on Word Balloon where he talks about this issue (great interview by the way) and how we never do see Jay Garrick and Batman interact. You know….he’s right and now I want to see them together more often. This was fun issue where Jay and Batman fight android safaris haha but the best part is the dialogue between Jay Garrick and Batman. I often forget that Jay is a scientist as well as a hero. You really get the feeling that Jay is the old hat while reading this and how much Batman respects him.

Brave and the Bold #14
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Scott Kolins

What? So confused….why did Ollie just shoot an Arrow into Deadman? Is there something to this? I bet because I know Green Arrow would never do such a thing and Deadman is already dead anyways. Kolins’s art can be a little distracting but this was an okay issue…I preferred the parts in Star City then the Nanda Parbat stuff though.

Brave and the Bold #15
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Scott Kolins

This continued the storyline that began last issue with Nightwing and Hawkman. I like that Waid is playing up that Nightwing is probably the most trusted superhero in the DCU because that is totally true. I just wish Didio would recognize that and not try to kill him all the time. There was a little continuity goof, I am pretty sure Deadman told Nightwing about him knowing his parents already in Nightwing: Year One but that is just a slight error, and such things are very unusual for Waid. So ya this was an okay issue, nothing to get really excited about.

Brave and the Bold #16
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Scott Kolins

First of all, what the hell is Selina doing in this costume. She definitely did not have this costume until Brubaker took over her series and this takes place long before that if it is her first meeting with Superman. Kolins obviously knows very little about her history if he isn’t aware of this, and the editor is an idiot for not catching it. The story was good though, I liked the fake out with the cave. But this huge continuity error really distracted from what was a good story.

Brave and the Bold #17
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Phil Winslade

You know…I never thought about the similarities between Raven and Supergirl until this issue. While this is the first Waid-less issue of this series, it was still very good. Winslade’s art is much better then Kolins, and I liked the use of continuity as Wolfman clearly followed the Supergirl series well. I know that Supergirl’s father apparently didn’t want her to kill Superman though right, at least it is not how he is being portrayed over in the Superman books. I think Johns said that they were going to clear that up soon.

Brave and the Bold #18
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Phil Winslade

You know I kind’ve like the bad ass Supergirl and her sense of humor, I hope she doesn’t completely change. Raven and Supergirl’s dialogue here is excellent and really shows what Wolfman can do. The insult comic dog stuff was hilarious and the story had real depth to it as well. Check this out, you won’t be disappointed.

Brave and the Bold #19
Written by David Hine
Art by Doug Braithwaite

Okay….if you don’t pick this up because you are waiting for JMS to start his run then you are an idiot. This was amazing! The story is fascinating and the art….oh my gosh…the art is beautiful. Perfectly dark but still full of beauty and wonder….especially when Green Lantern and the Phantom Stranger go to Kahlo. I never thought Green Lantern and Phantom Stranger could make sense in a story together, but they really do here as magick effects an alien planet. The panel showing the little girl who wrote the Green Lantern Oath on the wall was breathtaking and well creepy all at the same time. Check this out people, it is worth it. I can’t wait for the next issue. Definitely the best book I read this week. And by far the best issue of this series yet.

Thank You Magic Hand

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #14
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Pat Olliffe

The Magic Hand (Booster’s hand) taking away Mr. Freeze’s freeze gun was hilarious, I am not going to even try to explain it here because I won’t do it justice. This was a good issue. While still filler as we are waiting for Jurgerns to take (and I really miss his art on this book) it was a lot of fun. Starro is stopped of course but apparently at a price. I am glad that Remender did not have Booster find out that Rip is his son as that should be left for Jurgens to do. What happened to Booster’s sister, Goldstar? Wasn’t she in the last issue? Did I forget something? Great use of the DCU in this issue though.

Atom 15 – 25

All-New Atom #15
Written by Gail Simone
Art By Mike Norton

OMG! I forgot how much fun this series was! This is a countdown tie-in that ties in for about five seconds and then Simone takes it in a hilarious direction where we end up seeing the mating of two Japanese movie monsters…..crazy but hilarious stuff. It’s sad that this series got canceled.

All-New Atom #16
Written by Roger Stern
Art By Mike Norton

Roger Stern guest writes this issue which sees Ivy Town turned into sixties flower children community. It is a lot of fun, and actually include robots who mimic popular singing groups of choice!

All-New Atom #17
Written by Gail Simone
Art By Mike Norton

Another fun issue where The Atom and Giganta go out on a date – she is a real psychopath. I question why Wonder Woman would reveal her identity to Ryan so quickly but – er – well it’s not like she’s Batman.

All-New Atom #18
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton and Andy Smith

Haha I love the dialogue between Wonder Woman and the Atom in this issue….and I especially love the idea that the DCU has its own Ted Grant version of the George Foreman grill. But I get the feeling Ryan will not accept the Justice League invitation.

All-New Atom #19
Written by Keith Champaigne
Art by Jerry Ordway

This fill-in issue didn’t seem like filler at all and was really well-done. It was like The Atom meets the Descent meets Seven Soldiers. How many underground villages are there in the DCU?

All-New Atom #20
Written By Gail Simone
Art By Mike Norton

Simone’s final issue on this series wraps up a lot of plot elements from the last 20 issues including the discovery that Chronos being behind why Ivy Town is so weird. Simone did great work on this series, if only more people read it. I look forward to seeing what the new creative team is like.

All-New Atom #21
Written by Rick Remender

Art by Pat Olliffe

Remender begins his run with this issue, and so far, so good. At first I was kinda bored with just the Atom solo act but it got better in the second half when Panda and Head came in. This made me happy cause I hate when new writers just throw away the old supporting cast.

All-New Atom #22
Written by Rick Remender

Art by Pat Olliffe

This was an action-packed creepy but awesome issue with The Atom fighting the monster that he found in his bloodstream. I find it hard to believe that Panda is actually dead (apparently I missed that last issue) but if he is, I am not too upset. It is sad though. At least we still have Head.

All-New Atom #23
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Pat Olliffe

I was right and Panda is still alive! Despite this fluke, the series is still completely unpredictable and awesome. I love the idea that they are now inside the monster where there is a whole another world where time moves faster. I wonder if Panda will somehow go back to looking like he used to though.

All-New Atom #24
Written by Rick Remender

Art by Pat Olliffe

Shit is hitting the Fan and Ray Palmer is back. I like the idea that the relationship between Ryan Choi and Ray Palmer was all a set up by Chronos, but do you think that was the original intent of Simone and Morrison? I doubt it but I like it a lot.

All-New Atom #25
Written by Rick Remender

Art by Pat Olliffe

Well, Panda sadly dies after all. At least he died a hero. I really liked that Ryan is going to continue on as the Atom and I look forward to seeing him around the DCU. This was a great series and I really encourage people to check out the back issues and trades.

Atom 13 and 14

All-New Atom #13
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton

I never read Sword of the Atom, but not I am interested to check it out. In this issue, Ryan journeys to see the tiny people of South America that Ray Palmer lived with in that series. Pretty crazy people. In fact, they were a bit comedic and played for laughs here. They all believed Ray Palmer to be a God or an Enemy. But It was all in good fun. The ending was cool and I am looking forward to seeing Ryan team up with Donna, Jason, and Bob.

All-New Atom #14
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton

This was another spectacularly fun issue. We go to the City By the Atom’s Dog’s Ass as Ryan so eloquently put it with Bob, Donna, and Jason looking for Ray Palmer of course. And in that city they enter a place that seems like Heaven. It even has dead heroes and villains including some favorites of mine! But it isn’t real at all. But for a moment there, it was really cool to see all those characters in one place. I liked it. Although I never thought it was actually real. It looks like Ray Palmer doesn’t want to be found. I have a feeling he isn’t even on New Earth anymore.

Too Much Cheeze Whiz

All-New Atom #12 Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton

Ugh…this book is always enjoyable. But for the first time I think I was just bored with this issue. Nothing seemed to happen, it was all set up for the search for Ray Palmer arc and I think I was looking forward to that so much I expected the search to start with this issue but it really didn’t. We get som cryptic messages from that funny Ivy Town cab drivers. Apparently, Ivy Town is now advertising itself as a weird town which is just hilarious. Also, some old Atom Villains I am not familiar with show up. I will have to look them up (and unlike most bloggers, I actually like when I have to look something up from a comic. It’s fun! People should enjoy their hobby more. End of Rant). But it still felt like this was all set up and set up is good but I just felt this was boring set up. Not much else to say. It is still a great book though, don’t get me wrong. Oh and Head passing out from eating too much Cheese Whiz was awesome!

Shovels To The Head

All-New Atom #11
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott

This marks the exciting conclusion to the Atom’s return home to China. The art is kinda weird and this issue was pretty gorey but I liked it. I loved how Simone plays with the reader’s view of Jia. For a second there, I actually thought she might actually really love Ryan. But obviously not. She really is a gray-area character and some might even call her a villain. She’s well…a bitch. The funny thing is that throughout this issue I think that I am starting to like Alvin. I mean he is a sadistic bastard but something about him makes me want to see him come back as a villain in the future. Oh and the Atom hitting him with the shovel was just gross but awesome! I wonder how accurate this story’s version of Hong Kong and Chinese mythology is. Probably pretty accurate considering that I can’t see Simone not doing her research. I can not wait for the Hunt for Ray Palmer next month!

More Of The Atom’s Trip Home

All-New Atom #10
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott

The Atom continues his fight with his dead bully this issue. I must say what is with the Atom covers. They are just gross and this issue’s cover is no exception. Anyways, inside the comic is a really good read. The mystery isn’t really solved yet, did Jia really kill her husband? If so, why didn’t she tell Ryan that he was dead? Why doesn’t Alvin want to kill the Atom and instead wants the Atom to kill Jia? These questions will hopefully be answered next issue. This issue was more fighting with dead guys and reflection on Ryan’s past, which definitely isn’t a bad thing because I enjoyed this issue a lot. The art is pretty good as well. They draw the dead guys really grossly. I am getting the feeling though, that the dead guys aren’t the real villains. Maybe Jia is the real villain. I mean why would the girl marry Alvin after what he did to Ryan? Something is up with her.

Atom 8 and 9

All-New Atom #8
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton and Andy Owens

This crazy series where ANYTHING can happen continues with this issue in which The Atom travels to a possible future where everything relates to Superheroes and Atom and the cut-in-half man, Dr. Hyatt, are being pursued by a pissed off a time cop. Wow, that is one crazy and fun issue.

All-New Atom #9
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott

And the weirdness continues this issue even outside of Ivy Town. The Atom returns to Hong Kong to help out an old high school crush and he ends up in a fight with her dead husband, who she apparently murdered. The plots of this series are so cooooll and fun. I really think more people should be reading this book. If you want something completely unpredictable than All-New Atom is definitely for you. There is no way you can ever guess what is coming next. I liked the guest artists this issue, they were really good and I enjoyed learning a little bit more about Ryan’s past. The villain Alvin is a total bastard but you wonder if Jia isn’t all sweet and nice as she acts. This was a great issue.

All New Atom 6 and 7

All-New Atom #6
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott

This issue, The Atom stops the war between Chaos and Reason in Ivy Town. Although, he faces some incredible problem doing it, including a pretty brutal stab from Dwarfstar. Dwarfstar is a scary guy and Simone makes sure that the reader will hate him. This was an action-packed issue that will get your adrenaline going. I really enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing Dwarfstar after this and Ryan Choi is becoming a really good superhero.

All-New Atom #07
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Mike Norton

The cover to this issue never really happens in story but besides that this was a fun issue. Simone is really living up to her word that anything can happen in Ivy Town. You literally have no idea what is coming next is this series. In this issue we have cowboys, a green skinned member of the linear men who cuts off cowboy heads, and a man who has been cut in half vertically but somehow is still alive. Weird. But cool at the same time. I think weird but cool sums up Ivy Town.

Scary Villains

All-New Atom #5
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott
Cover by Ladrönn

Man am I loving this series. In 5 issues, Gail has managed to get me hooked. In fact, I did not expect to like this when I first heard of it but I am definitely loving it now. The cover, oddly enough, has to do with the last issue and not this one. Giganta is not in this issue and the Atom fell in her mouth in the last one. This issue reveals that the dean is actually working against the Atom and is actually quite evil. Ryan’s father pays him a visit and he seems like a real hard ass dad. I love the mention of the way the Chinese treat their fathers with respect, nice litle cultural recognition there. Oh and the scene where Dwarfstar rips through Ricky Robot’s throat was sooo cool. Definitely something I have never seen before in any medium. Sick, but cool. Dwarfstar and the dean are pretty scary villains.

All-New Atom 2 – 4

All-New Atom #2
Written by Gail Simone
Art by John Byrne and Trevor Scott
Cover by Ariel Olivetti

Simone continues this fantastic series by further developing the supporting characters and the environment that the new Atom will have to work in. I am still not a big fan of the art but Simone’s writing certainly makes up for that. I love how she inserts these quotes into the story (Although I do not understand them all) and how everything seems so mysterious. The cliffhanger is shocking and makes me wonder why this mystery man is giving this new redheaded kid an “atom belt”. Is the mystery man Ray Palmer? The only thing I do not like is that the villains speak funny and I think that makes it confusing to read.

All-New Atom #3

Written by Gail Simone
Art by John Byrne and
Trevor Scott
Cover by Ariel Olivetti

This issue bring us an even creepier Ivy Town. The idea of a war between magic and science is interesting. Ivy Town is starting to reminding me of Sunnydale on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it seems to be attracting strange occurences. The cancer god is just gross and I hope he dies before this storyline ends and I have no idea what was going on with those pilgrims/amish people worshiping him. I do hope Panda is not killed by this new villain (Is he new or is he one of Ray’s old villains) Dwarfstar. I like him. Dwarftstar also interests me as a villain.

All-New Atom #4
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Eddy Barrows and Trevor Scott
Cover by Ariel Olivetti

With John Byrne no longer an artist, the art on this series gets a whole lot better this issue. Also, we get a little more information on why Ivy Town has gone completely insane. Apparently, Ray Palmer screwed with the natural physics of the town on accident. There were also some great moments in this issue, including flashbacks to Ray’s life and Ryan’s trip down Giganta’s esophagus. This series keeps getting better and better, I hope Simone stays on it for a long time to come.

Honey, I Shrunk A Chinese Guy

All-New Atom #1
Written by Gail Simone
Art by John Byrne and Trevor Scott
Cover by Ariel Olivetti

So Ray Palmer dissapears and a young admirer named Ryan Choi from China takes his place at Ivy University and the fun begins! I really enjoyed this issue, I never even liked The Atom that much as a character before but Ryan really interests me. Simone brings us a world where carpets seem like jungles and rats are giant terrifying beasts. It reminds me a lot of watching Honey, I Shrunk the Kids when I was a kid. It brings back that awe I felt then. There could be world in the crack of the sidewalks kind of awe. The art though, I found it to be a little odd, but not odd enough to take away from the story. Byrne does draw one freaky rat though. We even get a heft dose of supporting characters this issue who I am excited to explore and a lot of comedic moments. Check out this issue, it is really good! This series seems to have a bright future ahead of it.