Comic Reviews

4.1

Static Shock #5 – Review

Jan 21, 2012 | Nicole D'Andria | Comic Reviews

The Static series has always moved rather slowly, and the repercussions for such slowness caught up to the creative team in this issue. Every little minute detail – from character development to story development – are glossed over as quickly as possible to get everything moving. Way too glossed over, with many artistic problems, story confusion and just too much all at once in a title that has unfortunately taken another turn for the worse, making it’s coming cancellation a little easier to swallow.

Static takes down a couple more baddies in this issue, giving them a lesson in electromagnetism. After thinking he’s successfully fooled his enemies, Static has a rude awakening when his sister Sharon is kidnapped and Static, in a fit of rage, may go too far.

5.8

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Red Hood and the Outlaws #5 – Review

Jan 19, 2012 | Sean Elks | Comic Reviews

Take great characters with compelling flaws and put them into a weak story with tired cliches. What you apparently get is Red Hood and the Outlaws #5. Scott Lobdell has put together a surprisingly strong cast but continues to force them through a plot that simply doesn’t suit them in the slightest. This is a book about damaged people left behind by the superhero community coming together. But this is also a book trying to be about ancient societies, chosen ones and prophecies. There’s only room for Red Hood and the Outlaws to be about one of these. And honestly, only one is interesting in the first place.

The story of this issue is divided between the continued introduction of Crux, one of Lobdell’s new creations, and Red Hood’s battle with one of the Untitled. Because of this combination, this is the first issue of the series to really highlight just how much the ongoing plot of the All-Caste clashes with the ongoing story of the characters. The Crux side of the story really feels at home in this book. It has our regular cast of damaged people coming into conflict with someone who is just as damaged as them in his own way. Meanwhile, we have the other side of the story trying to sell us on the idea of Jason Todd as a chosen one to fight some great and ancient evil. That’s a cookie-cutter fantasy plot with nothing really to do with theme of the book’s team.

6.2

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Nightwing #5 Review

Jan 18, 2012 | Kat 'Comic Uno' West | Comic Reviews

Nightwing has given readers great stories in the past four issues and is very different from many other superhero books. It gives the readers a mystery that does not just get settled in one story arc, but may take several story arcs to settle. This is one of the reasons this series has been one of my favorites for the DC reboot and one of my favorite titles on my pull list right now. With each issue it makes me more interested in the story and gets me excited for the next issue.

In this issue Dick Grayson is traveling with Haly’s Circus to New Orleans. But one of his performers, Jimmy, is frightened to be in New Orleans, but no one knows why. When Jimmy is kidnapped by a demon, Dick finds out the exact reason why Jimmy is so frightened. Now it is up to Nightwing to try and save Jimmy from the demon.

8.0

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Deathstroke #4 – Review

Jan 17, 2012 | Nicole D'Andria | Comic Reviews

Deathstroke #4 is a surprisingly impressive issue. It’s not just a slaughterhouse like the previous three issues have been. Despite the disappointing fact that the Blackhawks hardly make much of an appearance (though they do have their name thrown around a lot), the action is well-paced, the story turns interesting in spite of set-up problems and dare I say there is depth?

After a perfect hit in a meta-human prison, Deathstroke returns to find Christoph tired out, as well as himself, despite his refusal to admit it. He also learns some shocking evidence discovered by Peabody about his son, the first Ravager leading to him confronting a former rival Attila, now a member of the Blackhawks.

7.1

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Zombie Outlaw #1 – Review

Jan 13, 2012 | Nicole D'Andria | Comic Reviews

An odd little title, I draw the line at saying Zombie Outlaw is corny. The artwork is sometimes too awkward with little detail, the story has some slight pacing issues and not all of the jokes work. But Zombie Outlaw is a surprisingly creative little gem that stands out from the usually zombie title. It is not only a great addition for horror collectors, but also humorists who enjoy a little blood with their jokes.

“The Geek” Matt Naismith wants to seduce the beautiful “Brawn” K.T. Delaney (men and big biceps, who would have thought?). He goes to his friend “the Brain” Will Simers for help, which he swears to provide after flirting with the librarian and stealing Zombie Outlaw legend Edward Dransby’s hat… which leads to entertaining and crazy results.

6.4

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Batman: The Dark Knight #4 – Review

Jan 12, 2012 | Nicole D'Andria | Comic Reviews

I can not take this issue seriously. Finally, after numerous cameos, artwork focused only on beauty and a needlessly complex storyline, this issue reaches the epitome of punch-lines… and I can’t wait to read more!

To save a friend and stop a deadly drug from infecting the entire city, Batman must race against the clock and go up against a slew of his deadliest, drug-induced-super-powered enemies. But he does have the help of another super-powered ally.

7.6

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Secret Avengers #21 – Review

Jan 12, 2012 | | Comic Reviews

Warren Ellis completes his short run on Secret Avengers, which amounts to being little more than a series of filler issues. However, that doesn’t mean these haven’t been some clever and entertaining filler issues. Ellis’ final issue, in which he reunites with his Nextwave cohort Stuart Immonen, is no exception.

This last adventure sees Commander Rogers leading the Secret Avengers on a covert assault of O*N*E’s Houston office to weed out a Shadow Council spy. In doing so, they are confronted with a critical emergency involving an experiment gone wrong with alien hybrids kept in the basement. It’s typical Ellis material. He gives just enough grounded science fiction to make the outlandish more believable, which leads to a dramatic crisis that feels more real. When he gives an explanation for the breeding experiment, it makes sense. It just makes sense in a twisted and insane way.

8.0

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Fatale #1 – Review

Jan 8, 2012 | Nicole D'Andria | Comic Reviews

A thrilling crime-noir with more than a dash of horror, Fatale does nothing revolutionary… except that it may prove to be one of the best new titles of 2012. The narration feels like it has come out of a crime novel and the multiple genres combine into a wonderfully grotesque drama filled with crime, the regression and renewal of passion, and some decapitated bodies.

After the death of his “hack” detective novelist godfather, Nicolas Lash finds his godfather’s first manuscript… and a group of mysterious men at his doorstep with guns blazing. With the help of a sensuous woman named Jo, who has an indirect connection to his godfather, Nicolas must escape alive while learning about his godfather’s past through his manuscript, which is filled with affairs, corruption, and monstrous horrors.

8.2

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Scarlet Spider #1 – Review

Jan 8, 2012 | | Comic Reviews

This may not be the Scarlet Spider some wanted, but this first issue goes a long way toward showing that this is a Scarlet Spider worth having. Christopher Yost and Ryan Stegman bring Kaine to Houston in a storm of violence and show that, no matter what the DNA may say, this is not Spider-Man.

Admittedly, Spider-Island didn’t do much for me as a reader. I found it goofy in its premise and overblown in its execution. But what I can appreciate about it is that it at least restored Kaine to a state where he was usable as a character again. As many faults as the Clone Saga had, there were some gems in there too, and Kaine can be counted among them. Kaine always knew he was a clone, but he represented a dark side of that acceptance. Knowing he was not Peter Parker led him to aggressively reject the copied qualities of Peter inside him. Having no one to care about and a degenerating condition, he gave into his anger and power to become a killer. Fortunately, this interesting premise for a character seems to be what Yost is focusing on rather than any kind of follow-up to the events of Spider-Island.

9.0

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Wolverine and the X-Men #4 – Review

Jan 8, 2012 | | Comic Reviews

I think the best description for this latest issue that it is the Uncanny X-Force Aftermath issue. And that’s an interesting thing about the X-Books post-Schism: the Wolverine books seem to be a lot tighter than the Cyclops books. At the end of the last Uncanny X-Force issue (not counting the recent point one issue meant to be an introduction to Age of Apocalypse), we found out that Fantomex’s Apocalypse clone (Genesis) was to attend Wolverine’s school, that Angel had been mind-wiped by the experience, and that Beast now knew about the new X-Force (something he’d left Cyclops over a few years ago). This is quickly recapped at the beginning of WatX #4, but if you really want to have a great appreciation for the events of this issue, you really should pick up the trades of Rick Remender’s amazing run on Uncanny X-Men.

Interestingly, we have Nick Bradshaw as the artist this issue. Until now it’s been Chris Bachalo and I think his art style has been perfect for the tone of the book. Bradshaw does such a good job imitating his style, that I didn’t even realize at first that it wasn’t Bachalo. If you decided to pick up this issue you’ll want to keep an eye on the background as Bradshaw has littered it with easter eggs. For example, on the second page we see a dart board in the teacher’s lounge with Cyclops’ face on it. Another, later, panel has Quentin Quire trying to set a book on fire. I don’t want to spoil all of them for you, so just keep a sharp eye out as you read the issue.

Static Shock #5 – Review

Red Hood and the Outlaws #5 – Review

Nightwing #5 Review

Deathstroke #4 – Review

Zombie Outlaw #1 – Review

Batman: The Dark Knight #4 – Review

Secret Avengers #21 – Review

Fatale #1 – Review

Scarlet Spider #1 – Review

Wolverine and the X-Men #4 – Review

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