Top 5: Best Comics of 2012

Hello! I'm really excited for this. Why? It's the last post of 2012 AND it's my 100th published article! *Waiting for applause* OK, 2012 was a great and terrible year for comics. Millar was able to give us an entire series in  a year (new record), Mark Waid gave us Daredevil, and Scott Snyder repeatedly broke our hearts in American Vampire. However, Rob Liefeld continued to draw comics, Marvel gave us the travesty that was the new Spider-Man, and Superman fell prey to the terrible writing of Scott Lobdell. Did I mention Rob Liefeld? Now, let's get to it!

NOTE: Quick message to most critically-acclaimed series (Batman, Swamp Thing, X-Force, etc)

Now, let's actually begin!

5. Detective Comics

by John Layman and Jason Fabok

OK... I have a confession to make. I like John Layman's Detective Comics better than Scott Snyder's Batman. No bricks through my window yet? Good. John Layman's DC has been a fun ride, and we're only 3 issues in. Looking back, I realize issue 14 needs a better score than 3.5/5. I realize that this is the Bat-book that really broke the mold for me. It wasn't too dark, and it felt like I was watching a lost episode of B:TAS in comic book form. That my friends, is what a Batman book should be like.

4. Batman Incorporated 

by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

If  you're looking for light Silver-Age style fun and camp, Batman Inc is the place to read. Morrison and Burnham  craft an intricate tale that feels like it's all been planned from the beginning. Actually, I think it was. You got action, adventure, humor, and Bat Cow all in one book, and that cemented it as one of the best books of 2012.

3. I, Vampire

by Joshua Hale Fiakov and Andrea Sorrentino

If you're wondering why Andrew Bennett went mad, it's because he heard Andrea Sorrentino was leaving the series. Sorrentino made I, Vampire one of the most visually unique and pleasing books of the year, and now, he's leaving it! Thankfully, we'll still have the awesome story of Joshua Hale Fiakov  to keep us attached to the title. It's one of the craziest in comics. It's killed off its main character, turned its main character into the bad guy  (and vice versa) and gave us the best zero issue in September.

2. Saga

by Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Saga is Star Wars  meets Romeo and Juliet. Star Trek meets How I Met Your Mother. It's a great story, that takes place in one of the most three-dimensional universes ever. Vaughn and Staples have crafted a galaxy that feels like it's existed long before you opened the pages of the book, and will continue to exist after you close the book. Marko and Alana are great characters, and even background characters feel real. Plus, Fiona Staples' art is gorgeous.

NOW... #1 is...

1. Deathstroke 

by Rob Liefeld

loljk

1. Animal Man

by Jeff Lemire and Steve Pugh with Timothy Green and Travel Foreman

Animal Man is one of the most touching books on the shelves right now. Why? Lemire has put one of the most realistically written families in a terrible situation. It's relatable, clever, creepy  and  heartwarming. Also, Steve Pugh has been a pretty awesome replacement for Travel Foreman.

Well, there goes 2012, and hello 2013! 2013 will bring us the launch of Millar and Quitely's Jupiter's Children, Snyder and Lee's Man of Steel, Lemire and Sorrentino's Green Arrow among others. Let's hope it's another banner year for comics, and that publishers will stop giving Liefeld work! Happy New Year! Also, I just want to thank the people that have actually been reading this site. I thank the one person somewhere in Germany who always seems  to be the first one to read the book, and I hope you guys have a great 2013. Thanks! 

Pull List: 1/2/12

 "Sundaay!"

-From Marvels #2

OK, quick note. Later today, I will be uploading a very special Top 5. 

PULL LIST

BATMAN INC #6

by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

OK, I'm 99% certain that the Club of Heroes survived the last issue's cliffhanger. The 1% comes from the fact that every now and then Morrison pulls the rug out from under us and surprises us. Also, it's not  like I'm going to drop the series.

AMERICAN VAMPIRE #34

by Scott Snyder and Francisco Francavilla

After Henry's death last issue, I MUST find out what will happen to Pearl. Also, it's the last issue before a year long hiatus for the series. Enjoy it while you can.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #15

by Jeff Lemire and Mikel Janin

JLD has been on the rise lately. The last issue was awesome, save for the art, and apparently, Mikel Janin is back on art duties! However, I'm kind of sad that Ryan Sook has stop drawing covers for the series.

I, VAMPIRE #15

by Joshua Hale Fiakov and Andrea Sorrentino (apparently)

Double Dracula dose post December. Try saying that three times fast. On the other hand, I hope Andrea Sorrentino is drawing this issue, giving the series on final goodbye before Green Arrow.

WISH LIST

NEW AVENGERS #1

by Johnathan Hickman and Steve Epting

The Avengers has been great so far, and this is supposed to be a companion series to it. If it's any bit as fun as Hickman's main series, this will be a great book.

ANTI-WISH LIST

YOUNGBLOOD #75

by John McLaughlin, Jon Malin and Rob Liefeld

by John McLaughlin, Jon Malin and ROB LIEFELD
by John McLaughlin, Jon Malin and ROB !@#$ING FAIL LIEFELD

Justice League Dark Vol. 1: In The Dark Review

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK VOL. 1: IN THE DARK

by Peter Milligan and Mikel Janin

"Another jolly day in the life of John Constanitine..."

Justice League Dark has been an excellent title, and it only got better when Jeff Lemire replaced Peter Milligan as writer. This is a review of the first six issues of Millignan's run. Compared to Lemire's tenure on the series, this was much darker, and felt more like a Vertigo title than a DC title. The Enchantress makes for a pretty creepy villain. The stuff she does ranges from strange and weird to downright scary. A cow giving birth to a mechanical meat slicer? Yuck. Milligan does a great job with the dialogue, and develops most of the characters well. However, there are a few problems I have with the book. One, he doesn't devote enough time to Mindwarp. I still have no idea what role he was supposed to play in the story. Seriously, even Dove got more screen time (if you will) than he did, and she isn't even a member! Two, it doesn't exactly feel like a team book. It's more like Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers, a bunch of people fighting the same evil. My last problem: THE PACING IS SLOWER THAN MY MOM WALKING UP HILL WITH A BALL AND CHAIN ON HER LEGS, WHILE GIVING MR. T A PIGGYBACK RIDE. I mean, over the course of the first 5 issues, character introductions take way too much time up, and there are too many useless exposition scenes. Worse, the final encounter with the Enchantress is very anti-climactic. It only takes up like, 6 pages. Thankfully, for everything Milligan gets wrong, he gets something right. The sixth issue is an excellent teaser of things to come, and Deadman and Constantine are hilarious. Now, a bit of speculation. I believe DC meant for Lemire to join the book with the 9th issue from the beginning. Why? The cliffhanger from the first issue ties directly into Lemire's first arc, and I have a feeling Enchantress will be back...

Now, the only other two artists I would hand this book over to would be Ryan Sook and Frazer Irving. You're probably asking: But Ryan Sook, Frazer Irving and Mikel Janin don't have similar art styles at all! Yes, but I believe they are the only artists that are capable of capturing the kind of tone Peter Milligan was going for. Janin does a great job balancing the two feels of the book. The comedic scenes feel... comedic and the darker scenes feel... dark. The colors of the book help the art jump off of the page. Now, the best part of the art has got to be how crazy Janin can make things. From the creepy bug scene road from issue two, to the awesome first page of issue 5, Janin nails these scenes.

Justice League Dark Vol. 1 is a great buy. It's not as awesome as Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E, but it is still amazing. 

STORY: 3.5/5

ART: 4.5/5

VERDICT: 4/5

Aquaman #15 Review

AQUAMAN #15

by Geoff Johns and Paul Pelletier

Good job Aquaman, way to pull a Namor.

The Justice League are jerks. Let's get that out of the way. They can't seem to trust Aquaman for one measly minute, as he tries to work out a truce with his brother. So, now that we've got that out of the way... The second chapter of Throne of Atlantis is not as good as the first part in Justice League #15. It's boring, as characters do things that are out of character for them. And is the cliffhanger really supposed make us think that Batman's going to die? Now, lets talk about the big decision Arthur makes here. Johns has made Aquaman too much like Sub-Mariner from Marvel, it might as well be a Marvel/DC crossover. It's a bit problematic, and the art doesn't help matters either.

Paul Pelletier tries to imitate Ivan Reis, and he does a... OK, he doesn't really do a good job of it. The art seems messy and rough, and then feels weirdly cartoonish towards the end. However, Art Thibert's inks keep some scenes that would probably look muddled without them so, good job with that!

Aquaman #15 is the worst issue of one of DC's best titles. I'm sad it had to be like this Mr. Johns but...

STORY: 2/5

ART: 3/5

VERDICT: 2.5/5

Justice League #15 Review

JUSTICE LEAGUE #15

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Gary Frank

Justice League #15 is a massive step up in quality, after the dreadful 2-issue Cheetah arc. Why? Follow me, and I'll show you...

Justice League #15 might as well be another first issue. It's an excellent jumping on point for fans, and continuity doesn't really matter. This feels more like Marvel's the Avengers film, instead of Johns' Justice  League. The story is massive and epic in scope, with shades of disaster movies such as The Day After Tomorrow, and some  influence from (the god-awful) Ultimatum by Jeph Loeb and David Finch. Johns deals with a lot of character development between Clark and Diana, and well... Rockets and Atlantis. The tone of the book is akin to that of a Michael Bay movie (if it actually had brains). The big reveal at the end makes sense, and will definitely cause a LOT of complications for Aquaman and the League. However, I still feel some of the book was to overdramatic for my tastes, and it seems Johns' take on Batman feels too stale.

Meanwhile, Ivan Reis is a much more capable artist than Jim Lee is, as he keeps a very even feel through the book. Joe Prado's inks are solid, and gives the issue a very distinctive look. However, Reis' facial expressions sometimes look so overdone, it's almost  ridiculous. Case in point: Diana's face on the "Clark. It really works" panel.

The Shazam backup was "meh" as usual. I wish we found out why Black Adam allied with Sloth in the last issue, and Billy is way too unlikable for my taste. Gary Frank's artwork is fine, but as with Reis, his faces occasionally seem too expressive.

Justice League #15 is what DC's flagship title should be. A fun and explosive popcorn movie, with lots of character development, and great art.

STORY: 4/5

ART: 4/5

BACKUP: 2/5

VERDICT: 3.5/5

Top 5: Best Moments of Grant Morrison's Batman

Morrison's Batman should be up there with Miller's Daredevil and Adams' Green Lantern/Green Arrow. It has so many over the top and crazy moments that could probably fill a dozen Top 10 lists. So, here are my Top 5 favorite moments of Grant Morrison's Batman run, in honor of Batman Inc #6 this week!

5. Robin vs the Flamingo  

In Batman and Robin #6, part of one of the most underrated arcs of Morrison's saga, Robin well... He took a bazooka and nearly took out the Flamingo's face. Which led to one of the funniest Damian lines yet. After that, Robin was forced to team up with Scarlet (a dark reflection of himself) to take him down. They won, but Robin (figuratively) walked away crippled (the crippled part's literal, not the walking part).

4. Damian's First Appearance

"Father. I imagined you taller."

I didn't really like Batman and Son, but it was the spark that lighted the fire. The beginning of Morrison's Bat-saga. It began with Damian. And his first appearance was incredibly dramatic, though it lead to him nearly killing Tim  Drake and mugging Alfred.

3. The Death of Batman

In Final Crisis #6, Batman was (apparently) killed by Darkseid. This began the better half of Morrison's Batman saga, which had Dick Grayson taking his place, the JLA searching for him in the past, and well... Batman Inc.

2. The Island of Mister Mayhew

In this brief 3 issue arc, Batman and the Club of Heroes were stranded on the island of John Mayhew. Here, a "Ten Little Indians" murder mystery took place. Morrison did an excellent job of building up tension, and reintroducing the Club of Heroes. Having JH Williams draw this arc as well didn't hurt things either, which ended up leading to my second favorite panel of Morrison's Batman ever. What's the first? Well...

1. NANANANANANANANA BAT-COW

In Batman Incorporated #1 (2012), Robin introduced the most beloved character of Morrison's run yet. Bat-Cow. Batman and Robin took him in after discovering he was carrying poison in his beef. We have yet to see more of Bat-Cow after Batman Inc #3, but there will be a riot if fans are kept away any longer. 

The Panel! 12/21/12

I want to try something new out. I'm going to give you the most recent comic book news, while commenting on it. Yeah, I should probably just go to IGN's comment board or CBR's forums... But screw that! Let's get on with the show!

THIS WEEK IN COMIC BOOK NEWS...

-Dan Slott gets death threats over ASM #700!

OK, despite how much of a disaster ASM #700's ending is, it's not worth murdering the guy for it! Refuse to buy Superior Spider-Man #1 or anything written by Slott, but don't kill him! He might hate Spider-Man, but don't murder him over it! As for you Mr. Slott, I hope you take the Monarch approach, and CHANGE. THE. !@#$ING. ENDING. OF. THE. ISSUE. NOW. (Heh heh)

-Glen Marrza leaving the Walking Dead! 

I hope this means we don't  have to groan through another Half of Season 2.

-Gail Simone back on Batgirl!

Wait, what? Is Ray Fawkes still writing issues 18 and 19? What the heck is going on? Wasn't she thrown off a week ago? Is this a prank? WHAT THE HELL MY BRAIN HURTS

-Chloe Bennett joins the cast of Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D

I have no complaints here.

Daredevil #21 Review

DAREDEVIl #21

by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

The only thing you can appreciate Amazing Spider-Man #700's ending for is: Providing the set-up for the next issue.

Again, Mark Waid is one of my favorite writers. Daredevil pushes on as the current arc is given a satisfying conclusion, that still makes you want more. First, let's talk about the ending. If there's one cliche I like and hate in equal measures, it's the "The guy who hired me is--" stereotype. It makes your mouth water, but leaves you angry for having to wait longer to find out who's pulling the strings. Waid  utilizes this to great results, as we get to see the full extent of the new and pissed off Spot's power. Yeah, as usual, Waid's dialogue blah blah blah awesome cliffhanger that makes good use of ASM #700 blah blah blah. ... What is there left to say about Mark Waid?

Chris Samnee is the next best thing to having Darwyn Cooke or Bruce Timm drawing this. I can imagine Waid wrote this with Cooke or Timm in mind, because this feels like an unseen episode of Dardevil: The Animated Series. Samnee's simple style compliments Waid's harrowing story, and provides a gritty yet light-hearted tone. 

Daredevil #21 is a blast to read. I highly suggest picking this up.

STORY: 4/5

ART: 4.5/5

VERDICT: 4.5/5

Batwoman #15 Review

BATWOMAN #15

by JH Williams. W. Haden Blackman and Trevor McCarthy

Woah. Massive quality jump. But is it for better... or for worse? 

If you're trying to get someone into Batwoman, don't let them start off with this issue.  A: It's not the best place to start. And B: It's definitely not the best chapter of the series. This issue was nothing but a boring interlude. I yawned my way through this issue. Here's a quick summary of the book: The first and last page of this book are the same as the last page of #14. Maggie gets some stuff done, shoots some of Medusa's men, and yeah... Williams and Blackman do end up doing a commendable job with the dialogue, but beyond that, this is easily something to ignore.

Trevor McCarthy is a very "meh" artist. He doesn't bring the same complexity or beauty JH Williams does, and ends up feeling like a rush job. Many characters look the same, and there is a frequent continuity error involving Maggie's lipstick. I usually like McCarthy's art (Batman: Gates of Gotham was spectacular), but it just doesn't belong here.

Batwoman #15 is a very average issue. It's nothing but boring filler, where the only thing that is accomplished is a few Asian guys getting shot.

STORY: 2.5/5

ART: 2/5/5

VERDICT: 2.5/5

Saga #8 Review

SAGA #8

by Brian K. Vaughn and  Fiona Staples

Fard should get his own spin-off series called "All-Fard Comics".

This series takes pride in not taking things too seriously. I commend Mr. Vaughn for that. I love the opening scene with Marko's first meeting with Alana, and pretty much everything about Fard's character. The cliffhanger seems like a dire omen for things to come, and I'm excited to see where it goes. Vaughn's biggest strength comes from the dialogue he writes, and I love it. It's got an absurd amount of wit and realism that many writers lack nowadays. However, I find it hard to believe that every character is this clever.

Fiona Staples' art looks as polished as ever, and is worth $2.99 on its own. Seriously, all of the dialogue could be replaced with the word "pee" and the art would still be enough to keep me engrossed.

Saga #8 is another winner from Brian Vaughn. 8 issues in, and it's much better that Vaughn's Y: The Last Man, which was a very good series on its own.

STORY: 4.5/5

ART: 5/5

VERDICT: 5/5

indestructible Hulk #2 Review

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2

by Mark Waid and Lenil Yu

OK, on the ad for this issue a few months ago, it said "Hulk and Iron Man are friends... But Banner and Stark are anything but!" That's probably one of the most embarrassing typos on Earth.

First off, Waid and Yu make a better team than Iron Man and Hulk. Waid brings his signature wit and banter to the table, while playing off on the characters' popularity and personalities from the Avengers. Iron Man makes a great addition to Hulk's supporting characters, and I would like to see more of him interacting with Hulk. Now, this is a VERY humorous book. If you're expecting something akin to Bruce Jones or Jason Aaron's runs, you're looking in the wrong place. There is a very funny scene in the beginning involving Stark and Banner having a bit of fun with SCIENCE. 

Lenil Yu is one hell of an artist, despite the tiny gripes I have with him (sometimes drawing characters from odd or annoyingly slanted angles). Yu displays an excellent amount of skill here, by cramming the fight scenes with big detail without ever feeling cramped. 

Indestructible Hulk is the best book to come out of Marvel NOW! It's going to be real fun seeing where this book will go next.

STORY: 5/5

ART: 4.5/5

VERDICT: 4.5/5

Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E Vol. 1: War of the Monsters

FRANKENSTEIN: AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E Vol. 1: War of the Monsters

by Jeff Lemire and Alberto Ponticelli

Holy cow, that title took 5 minutes to type out. 

Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E is the tiny book that could. From the story to the art, it has a charm that many of the New 52 books lack, including Animal Man (to a degree). While the book classifies Frank and the Creature Commandos as monsters, they're still very human at heart. Frank, though he is a very skilled warrior, always looks for the peaceful solution first. Miz (that's what I call her [the fish lady]) lets her emotion and curiosity get the better of her, and is very reluctant to resort to violence. These characters are surprisingly easy to relate to yet you still have a compulsion to be in awe of them. The Silver Age ideas of the book fuel the fun story alongside little tidbits that longtime fans will recognize. (Ray Palmer invented the shrinking technology that shrunk the Ant Farm...) 

The art is absolutely crucial to the book. Alberto Ponticelli uses a scratchy and rough style reminiscent of Lemire's own art style. The level of detail Ponticelli infuses his panels with is incredible. His rough and handrawn feel makes the sci-fi elements seem all the more alien. However, for the first six issues, Ponticelli's style feels a bit rough, even messy at times due to the thick layer of inking. By the last issue, the problem is gone thanks to a different inker. 

This trade makes me sad that the title is leaving in January. I can't believe DC is waving goodbye to this, while letting crap like Batwing and Superboy stay on the shelves. 

STORY: 5/5

ART: 4/5

VERDICT: 4.5/5

Pull List: 12/19/12

It's S-s-s-sunday and it's time for a new p-p-p-pull list! If you don't know, I show you my purchases for the week, a book I want, but I'm not getting, and a book that I don't want.

PULL LIST

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #2

by Mark Waid and Lenil Yu

HULK SMASH! Last month's #1 was awesome, but I did not review, since I was out of town. I would have given it a 4,5/5 (mainly just for a tiny flaw I found in the art). I'm curious to see how Waid works Iron Man into the story and I want more Lenil Yu art. 

BATWOMAN #15

by JH Williams  and W. Haden Blackman

After last  month's cliffhanger, I can tell you that things are about to go down. Batwoman and Wonder Woman are going to kick Medusa's  butt, and JH Williams is drawing it! What more could you want?

SAGA #8

by Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples

If you aren't reading Saga, you need to start. You can pick up the trade, which  collects the first six issues for the price of three. Vaughn's witty dialogue, amazing plot, and Fiona Staple's gorgeous art make this a perfect buy. 

DAREDEVIL #21

by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

That's an awesome cover. I wanted that mounted on my wall. Besides that, I'm anxious to see how Mark Waid  and Chris Samnee finish up this arc.

WISH LIST

AVENGERS ARENA #2

by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker

Man... The last issue just released last week. I want this issue, and I might get it, but it's not part of my main pull list. Hopeless and Walker have made Avengers Arena the equivalent of Animal Man to the New 52. Both were unexpectedly awesome, and successful.

ANTI WISH-LIST

CAPTAIN AMERICA #2

by Rick Remender and John Romita Jr.

Well, it's a good sign this week when my Anti Wish-List pick is just a placeholder! I actually kind of want it this week, it's just that, I hope the art improves. Yeah... I don't know what else to say... 

My Thoughts on the Leaked Ending of Amazing Spider-Man #700

What the hell, Marvel. 

In case you didn't hear, Amazing Spider-Man #700's ending was just leaked online and it's an absolute travesty. Doc Ock remains as Spider-Man and well... Peter Parker sorta/kinda/maybe dies. This absolutely pisses me off. Peter Parker is one of the Marvel Universe's biggest heroes, and to some (including some people I know) is the reason people like  Marvel. The reason Stan Lee and Steve Ditko made Peter Parker Spider-Man was because he was someone you could relate to, and was easy to like. Despite his flaws, Pete was always the one person in the Marvel Universe  to survive well... Everything. In my top ten favorite characters, Spider-Man would probably be number 3 below Batman and Animal Man (I know.).  And that IS the reason he owns that spot! He's a great character, and having someone else in his shoes is some of the biggest bull!@#$ I've ever heard! For once, I hope that Marvel does resurrect someone. Marvel, if you're reading this, go tell whoever came up with this terrible idea to go sit in a corner and think about what he's done. This is plain stupid. 

I know there's something called opinions out there, and I respect most of them, but nearly everyone on the web is crying in outrage of this decision. First, the disaster that was AVX, then denying copying DC's New 52 (Seriously, they're even releasing their own #1 omnibus?), and now this? Get your act together Marvel! 

Top 5: Recently Created Villains

It's sad. Most villains that are created nowadays are boring, bland, and all have the same stupid plan: Take over the world. Well, why not try to wipe out the mutant race with a good reason to do it, or maybe just run around cutting faces off? These are the top 5 best recently created villains. 

5. Ord

Once upon a time, there was this alien called Ord of the Breakworld. Well one day, Ord was sent to Earth to find the mutant that threatened his homeworld. He believed an X-Man was responsible, and  attacked,  cutting Wolverine's stomach open and watching his guts and innards splash onto the floor in the process with a delightful SPLAT! And after pummeling the X-Men into submission, he was taken out by a surprise attack from Lockheed. After the X-Men dealt with some other stuff, he had SWORD capture them and take them to the Breakworld and stuff happened. And then it was revealed that Ord was a surprisingly layered character and died a hero. The end. 

4. Ultimate Reed Richards

Reed Richards is just creepy. Seriously. How surprising do you think it was when everyone found out Reed was responsible for his family's death? And for everything else that was happening to the hero community after (the god-awful) Ultimatum? He even ended up taking down  Thor. I mean, that takes quite a bit of strength. He's taken a back seat of sorts in the Ultimates right now, but I doubt we've seen the last of him.

3. Doctor Hurt

Hurt is probably one of the most evil new creations well... ever. He found a  way to beat Batman (only for him to come back), he's immortal, he runs the sinister Black Glove and he knows Batman's secret identity. Oh, and did I mention he's also a Wayne? 

2. Negan

"Oh yeah, I got a feeling that it's going to be pee-pee pants city here real soon."

"I'm going to beat the HOLY F!@#EDY F!@#ING F!@# out of one of you with my baseball bat."

Negan is practically Robert Kirkman. In the Walking Dead #100, he chose the man who was going to be killed by him in a sinister game of eenie-meenie-minie-moe after commenting (hilariously) on each main character. And as he was beating his victim to death he kept cracking jokes and commentary with no regard for human life. Plus, he keeps dropping the f-bomb after every two  words or so. I can't wait to  see what he does next.

1. Pyg

We haven't seen much of Pyg recently, but I hope we get more of him soon enough. He doesn't pose a massive threat to the heroes like Negan or Doctor Hurt, but he's the creepiest mother you will ever meet. He cuts off people's faces will rambling his creepy thoughts aloud (Most of his dialogue ends up having double meaning). Worse,  he frequently takes off his shirt revealing the fat underneath, and I don't think I can un-see that.

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #3 Review

BEFORE WATCHMEN: RORSCHACH #3

by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo

Hurm. What happened to this book?

Two months ago, I finished reading issue 2 of this issue, and couldn't wait for this. Now that I've finished reading this issue, I'm kind of glad the wait for the last issue is 2 months long. This is one of the most formulaic book I've read this month. Last issue, my gripes were that this book read too much like the Punisher. Now, this reads to much like "Born Again" Daredevil. I could definitely guess the ending of the book, and I was actually a bit bored. Azzarello's writing of RS is just lazy, and Rawhide doesn't seem that threatening anymore. However, I've got to give credit to Azzarello for actually making Rorscach evade an ambush. I think that's the first time I've seen a hero do that all year.

Thankfully, Lee Bermejo's art is the book's saving grace. As usual, his painted and realistic style gives the book the grit it needs, and the colors flow perfectly with the art. Bermejo is the only reason I MIGHT pick up issue 4.

Rorschach #3 stumbles in the story department, but shines in its visuals.

STORY: 2/5

ART: 5/5

VERDICT: 3.5/5 

Avengers Arena #1 Review

AVENGERS ARENA #1

by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker

It's the Avengers Royale! No, it's the Hunger Arena! No, it's... AVENGERS ARENA! 

Avengers Arena is a surprisingly well done book. It embraces its influences like "The Hunger Games" and "Battle Royale" (Arcade even reveals he got the idea for the game from some books). It was a welcome surprise, despite the Battle Royale-esque cover (You'd think I could judge a book by it's cover). The story of the book is simple. Superpowered teens fight to the death. Now, I was expecting a brawl fest without any story, and found a layered and  emotional (sometimes heartbreaking) tale. Hopeless focuses on the character of Hazmat who (I assume) is our Katniss or Shuya. Hazmat is an unexpectedly great lead, who gets all up in your feels (emotions). However, the book's biggest strength is the fact that Hopeless (ironic, huh?) hits the ground running and kills off one fan-favorite character at the end of the book. I kind of wished that Hopeless established the other characters a bit more, but I guess he's switching his character focus with each issue. 

My only exposure to Kev Walker's art was in "Invincible" by Robert Kirkman, and I gotta say: BLARGHABLARGH THAT WAS AWESOME. Walker's art really helps sell the emotion of the characters and works splendidly alongside Hopeless's well... Hopeless story.

Avengers Arena #1 is an awesome book that successfully sells the HOPELESSness of the character's situation, and with great art like this, it's a definite buy.

STORY: 4.5/5 

ART: 5/5

VERDICT: 4.5/5

Detective Comics #15 Review

DETECTIVE COMICS #15

by John Layman, Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke

Oh Clayface, you poor bastard.

Detective Comics #15 only has a brief Joker cameo, but I would still mark it off as a DOTF tie-in. The thing I like about this book, is that Layman found a way to work the Joker into his overall storyline, and have it actually make sense. As usual, Layman tries not to keep things to grim by giving the book the right amount of  humor, mixed in with the darkness. Plus, Oglivy, the goon from the issue 13 backup, returns, and becomes a surprisingly interesting character. A minor flaw I found with the story, was that Batman's dialogue occasionally slipped, sometimes coming off as too corny ("I hit Clayface in the place I've never hit before: His heart."). 

Jason Fabok is the perfect match for the tone of this book. His Finch-esque style looks great, especially during the big fight scene towards the end. 

The backup story was pretty awesome, showing Poison Ivy suffering the consequences of manipulating Clayface... I thought it was a nice diversion, especially since Andy Clarke's art  is suddenly good again.

Detective Comics #15 is another chapter in John Layman's Batman saga. I personally think that we have a classic story in the works right now.

STORY: 4/5

ART: 5/5

BACKUP: 4/5

VERDICT: 4.5/5

Pull List: 12/12/12

12/12/12! It's the end of the world! And then another on 12/21/12! Fortunately, the apocalypse hasn't affected the comic book industry much, so we're getting some good  comic books either way!

PULL LIST

BATMAN #15

by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jock

Last month's Batman issue fell a bit flat for me, but I hope Batman #15 is a change of pace for the book. I'm interested as to what Mister J's plan for the Bat-Family is, so I'm staying tuned to this series.

AVENGERS ARENA #1

by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker

Battle Royale. With superpowers. Fanboy squeal. 

BEFORE WATCHMEN: RORSCHACH #3

by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo

Rorschach and Minutemen have been the two standout titles of the entire Before Watchmen line. Brian Azzarello's gritty script and Lee Bermejo's cinematic art make for one of the best books DC is publishing.

WISH LIST

DEATHSTROKE #15

by Justin Jordan and not Scott Clark

Scott Clark is one of my favorite artists. However, I saw the preview, and was appalled to find a FILL IN artist drawing it. I had very high hopes for this, so far as to nearly add it to my pull list. I was willing to give the creative team a new chance, but with 3 books on my Pull List this week, I dropped it. Maybe if I have spare cash, and stop by another comic shop over the weekend, but as of now, I'm not buying it. 

ANTI-WISH LIST

SUPERBOY #15

by Tom DeFalco and RB Silva

For the second time in a row, Superboy has made the anti-wish list, without hesitation. I gave the last issue a flip through at a comic shop, and nearly gagged at how terrible it was. I doubt that this issue would be any improvement. 

Green Arrow #15 Review

GREEN ARROW #15

by Ann Nocenti and Freddie Williams

The newest arc of Green Arrow begins. But is it worth you money?

Ann Nocenti is making a fun story for GA. However, fun isn't the same as good. You can get a lot of enjoyment out of this issue, but it won't wow you. Nocenti has a basic understanding of Green Arrow, and makes his world very light-hearted. However, the issue doesn't live up to the cover or even the solicit! Plus, the new villain kind of, oh, what's the word, SUCKS. The plot is also pretty predictable, as I knew what was going to happen by the end of the issue.

Freddie William's art is okay. During the action scenes, he shines, with a playful energy conveying the fights. During the quieter moments, his facial expressions sometimes lag behind, and fail to be emotional. 

Green Arrow #15 is a blast to read, but it ain't awesome. 

STORY: 3/5
ART: 3/5

VERDICT: 3/5

Top 5: Best X-Men Stories

Hey there, friends! In honor of Avengers #1 coming  out this week, I've compiled a list of my top 5 favorite... X-MEN stories.

WOLVERINE VOL. 1

by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller

Wolverine Vol. 1 is what "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" should have been, and what I hope the upcoming "The Wolverine" will be. It chronicles Wolverine's adventures in Japan where he comes across his former lover Mariko and the villainous Silver Samurai. To be honest, there weren't really any underlying themes or complex mysteries in it. It was just a simple Wolverine story filled with action, and was meant to be enjoyed by everyone. The simplicity of the story is what I think makes it so great.

4. Mark Millar's ULTIMATE X-MEN

by Mark Millar (why, expecting someone else?) and friends

In my eyes, after Millar left UXM, the title just went downhill. Marvel decided to try to make its books more accessible with its Ultimate Comics line. Among the many titles, almost all of them were smash hits. One of the stand outs was Millar's Ultimate X-Men, which gave Xavier's  Men a much needed boost. I loved the book mainly for its unpredictability and characters. As usual, Millar infused his characters with a lot  of life, and didn't shy away from revealing who the characters really were. I think the title peaked during the fantastic Ultimate War storyline, which pitted the Ultimate X-Men against the Ultimates  This happened because of a misunderstanding brought about by Magneto. 

3. X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS

by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson

God Loves, Man Kills was the definitive X-Men story (that was before AXM, more on that in a bit). This pitted a psychotic priest named Stryker against the X-Men. Mutants have always been a metaphor for victims of racism, and it has never been more apparent than in this book. Stryker convinced his followers to kill all mutants, believing they were sick and evil little !@#$s. It gets pretty trippy and disturbing when Stryker kidnaps Xavier, but ultimately comes to a satisfying (and happy) ending. 

2. NEW X-MEN

by Grant Morrison and others

New X-Men changed the game for the future of X-stories. Without it, there would be no Schism. No Wolverine and the X-Men. Hell, not even AVX would exist if it weren't for this awesome book. Grant  Morrison brought back the fun of Chris Claremont's original run, and defied all expectations. For a good part of his story, Xavier was possessed by his evil twin sister, and Emma Frost was even shot and shattered. And this was the story where a major character died and actually STAYED MOTHER!@#$ING DEAD FOR ONCE. Jean Grey's death has effected the Marvel Universe to this day in more ways than one, and has the honor of being one of the few characters that still owns the farm. 

1. ASTONISHING X-MEN

by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday

I like to think of Morrison's New X-Men as the first part of an X-Men trilogy. If New X-Men was A New Hope (get it?) then Astonishing X-Men is "The Empire Strikes Back".  This is the book that stole God Loves, Man Kills' spot as the definitive X-Men story. Taking the threads  of Morrison's run, and weaving a great sequel that could be enjoyed on its own, Joss Whedon showed us that he understands these characters. The book was humorous, violent, shocking, campy and fun, all of the traits you want in a comic.