Comic Reviews

Barry Allen is Back? The Dastardly Death of the Rogues Hardcover

If you check your local bookstore this month, you might find the frantic adventures of resurrected speedster Barry Allen in the collected edition of The Flash-
“The Dastardly Death of the Rogues.” This book contains issues one
through seven of the Flash’s monthly and secret origin special. Written
by Geoff Johns and drawn by Francis Manapul, with a back up drawn by
Scott Kolins. Now Johns is no stranger to The Flash as he and
Kolins did a fantastic run on that title during the Wally West mantle.
During that previous run, Flash’s Rogues were updated and organized. The
Rogues were revitalized, almost becoming more interesting than the hero
himself and to some point they also worked as a type of supporting cast
to that title. After Johns’ departure from the title, so were the Rogues
to an extent. Now Johns is back and with him are the Rogues. This time
around with Barry Allen, the original Silver Age Flash. But what has
changed? Five different Flashes? Is this CSI Flash? Do I have to worry
about all this continuity mess?

Carbon Grey #1 – Advanced Review

Carbon Grey comes across like the younger sister of “The Red Star”, but has the character design and cast of any cell shaded fighting video game. This comic is what I’d call a “concept book”, meaning the ideas and the characters are all very cool and unique, but the story is there to get our characters into the scenes of action desired by the creators. As it falls this is just an average comic from Image that is into all the same trappings as a creator owned book with no clear editor involved.

The Darkness #90 – Advanced Review

The Darkness #90 is the first part of a story arc called
Outer Darkness.  The story is written by
Phil Hester who is known for his Ant Man work at Marvel comics.  The issue explains in the first page the
events that took place before the new story arc begins.  It explains that Estacado’s has been fighting
with a demon called Sovereing a demon who has been tormenting Estacado for a
time.  Estacado then builds a team of
mercenaries to go across the world to destroy any trace of Sovereing and be
finish with this foe.   After destroying Sovereing, Estacado goes back
to Chicago to find a new meaning to his life. 

Power Girl #21 – Review

Pulling off the ultimate disappearing act, Maxwell Lord has
erased his entire existence off of every mind on the planet – everyone except
the Justice League International. However, how will Power Girl recruit more
heroes in believing that Maxwell Lord is real, and is also a big threat? With
Generation Lost/Justice League International coming to a quick stop,
partnerships will be forged and sides will be chosen. Written by Judd Winick
and artwork by Sami Basri.

The issue opens up with Power Girl having a recap of
something that has happened in the previous issue. With the J.L.I. being the
only heroes to know of Max Lord’s existence, they need backup and get some
other, if not all, heroes to remember that Maxwell Lord is one of the most
dangerous men on Earth. Power Girl meets up with Dick Grayson and tries to
convince him that Maxwell Lord exists and that Ted Kord didn’t commit suicide. With
very little success, it turns out that every time Dick remembers who Max is, he
soon forgets the information given to him. Knowing that Dick will never grab
hold of the truth, Power Girl leaves to go get some REAL proof that Ted wasn’t
suicidal.

Nemesis Hardcover – Review

“First of all, may I congratulate you on your success against a most formidable opponent. You succeeded where many significant others failed and deserve all the accolades paid to you in the media” perhaps this quote from Nemesis is best suited to the extraordinary, creative team of this four issue, mature miniseries, published by Marvel’s creator own banner Icon. The third collaboration between Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. The creators of Marvel’s Civil War and Old man Logan. This time together in their own book. Althogh this series is short and came out a while ago, the collected hardcover edition was released to non direct market readers this month. 

So what does this series offers? it gives the readers the right dose of brutal, adrenaline-driven-needle-in-your-eye-action. With McNiven drawing with a keen, modern, cinematic eye on the page. The readers are injected into a sequential movie, rather than the ordinary sequential art comic book.  McNiven’s art has always been impressive but is his storytelling technique that has grown; portraying and developing the right rhythm, panel to panel, making this book a joy just to look at. Heck, you can read the story without the word balloons.

Age of X: Chapters 1 & 2 – Review

The “Age of X” kicked off this week in a big way with the first two installments of the crossover event. The first chapter takes place in X-Men: Legacy and the second in New Mutants, with both chapters written by Mike Carey the brain child behind the cross-over. The series seems heavily influenced by the “Age of Apocalypse” the 90’s series that for four months changed the title and setting of all the X-Books as a parallel world showed what would have happened if Xavier had never started the X-Men. This series is much the same way, but the presence of Xavier is still in the book. The X gene has been outlawed and as such anyone born with the gene is put to death either on the spot or in prison. Because of this all the Mutants of the world have been pushed into one area called Fortress X. The mutants are attacked by mankind who break their magic barrier to attack them every single day.

Who Is Jake Ellis #2 – Review

The action continues in this fast paced action mystery that’s part Jason Bourne and part Wolverine. Jon is captured and not only does he need to figure out which agency is coming after, but also how many agencies are coming after him. Then when he has a chance to breath he needs to figure out who set him up in the first place. The book begins with two men dragging subject eleven back to his holding cell. Scientists can be heard discussing remote viewing and testing upon the patient that the reader will come to know as Jon. One of the men asks if he’s having visions yet so that he can report something back to his superiors. Then a voice begins talking from the corner of the Jon’s locked cell. He turns to see a man wearing an all-black suit with red tie standing in the corner. He tells him that if he wants to get out of there he needs to listen to him.

Echoes #3 – Review

In the last issue Brian arrived at home to be questioned by a police detective (Neville) and then found a package addressed to him that contained a doll of the missing little girl’s remains. Brian begins freaking out and begins to think that he may have actually done it and killed the little girl like his father before him did. He decides after much battle with himself that he should call the officer that questioned him to turn himself in. When Neville finally answers the phone, Brain tells him that he remembered something that may help. The Officer asks to meet with him and Brian foolishly agrees. Neville comes over to his house and they meet out back. He gives him a description of a make believe man and even Brian can’t believe his lies. He asks Neville for a cigarette, but for him not to tell his wife. Neville asks to meet him again this time by the school that he was scene watching the girl at. The next morning Brian meets at the school. Neville shows him a picture of a man that Brian surprisingly knows. The man’s name is Chris and he has brain damage from a car accident in high school. The detective makes Brian take him to Chris’ house.

Morning Glories #7 – Review

Morning Glories returns with a brand new story arc and a place for new readers to jump onto. The story opens up with a man named Andrew in a very poor part of India. He’s come to find an extraordinary child and isn’t disappointed. The young girl will grow up to be Zoe, but in the meantime she’s already learned English just by Andrew’s presences. Since Zoe is an orphan he has it arranged for her to be taken to America and put with a particular family. Flashing forward to the present, we find Zoe and Casey alone in their room. Casey asks what Zoe’s problem is and Zoe answers her by going off. She chews Casey out for not trusting her enough to include her on the fine details of her rescue mission and storms out of the room. While walking she comes across a team of cheerleaders practicing. Zoe can’t believe that this screwed up school actually has a cheer team. As the practice lets out one of the girls catches up with Zoe and begins talking to her.

Boom! Studios Art Book – Review… Sort Of

Celebrating Boom! Studios’ 6-year anniversary, this limited edition art book limelight’s the greatest covers from the last 6 years of Boom!’s publishing catalogue. Like Die Hard, Irredeemable, Incorruptible, The Traveler, Soldier Zero, Starborn, Hero Squared, and many more! Artistic talents by David Johnson, John Cassaday, Rafael Albuquerque, Tim Bradstreet, Sean Philips, and others create the covers of this one-of-a-kind collection from some of today’s most awesome artist. This great Art Book is few in number and gets released this week, and to add to the specialness of this book Stan Lee writes the introduction.