Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 Review

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US #1

by Tom Taylor and Jeremy Raapack

Technically... I have the first 3 issues on digital, and digital issues are slightly shorter than regular issues, so I'm really just reviewing the first 3 digital  issues... But it's more like reviewing the  first printed issue. What? 

Injustice: Gods Among Us is a prequel to the upcoming game, but HOLY FREAKING COW, I am still shocked at how good this was! The story follows Superman as he looks for Lois, as she has been kidnapped by the Joker. Oh, did I mention that she's  pregnant and they want Batman to be the godfather? So the Justice League escalates a worldwide search, and well... Let's just say the crap hits the fan with the last 10 pages. Tom Taylor has crafted a surprisingly emotional and character driven story. I think it would work well on its own, even without the game coming out! Taylor really shines towards the end, as everything falls apart, and the wheel begins turning. Taylor makes things hit harder when the first few pages are very light-hearted, and bubbly. The end is ridiculously sad, as Taylor plays with your emotions, and the characters' as well. Speaking of characters, Taylor does a spectacular job with character dialogue. 

Despite how much I've praised the story, the artwork doesn't mix with the story well. With Taylor's dark and brutal story, Jeremy Rapaack's art resembles Howard Chaykin, but much happier. It's not bad, I just don't think it matches the script at all.

Injustice #1 (or 1-3 for you digital comic readers) is well  worth your money with its emotionally driven story, that's sure to give you a case of the feels.

STORY: 5/5

+ Surprisingly good

+ Pretty damn sad, and does a good job with the tragedy

+ Excellent character work

ART: 3/5

+ It looks good

- At conflict with the mood of the story

VERDICT: 4/5

The Avengers #4 Review

THE AVENGERS #4

by Johnathan Hickman and Adam  Kubert

That's it. I'm DONE. It's OVER.

What happened to this title? The first two issues were grand, epic, and well-done. The third was okay, but issue 4 is crap. Now, I can tell Hickman is trying to build towards something much bigger than this, but he does a terrible job juggling all of these big ideas in his head. That's why Grant Morrison is such a joy to read. He crams so much into his books, but manages to straighten it out into something readable. This issue barely managed to hold my attention throughout. It jumps between a visit to the Savage Land and Hyperion's dull and cliched origin. The issue's level of  confusion is so powerful, that when I was going to reread it for this review, I decided to avoid giving myself another headache. Hickman's character work is average, but most characters are bland and static. 

However, Hickman isn't to receive all of the blame for this issue being terrible. Adam Kubert delivers far from the best work of his career. His characters look horrible, with flawed anatomy and incredibly strange and awkward facial expressions. In fact, there's one panel where the character's face portrays the exact opposite emotion his dialogue is. Kubert's sense of motion is practically non-existent, and unlike many artists, his work is like this from beginning to end. 

Most series take about 6 issues to lose momentum, but Avengers did it in 4. It started out as one of the most epic comics Marvel has published, and it could have been the best book on the stands if it improved. But this is just crap. It was a chore to read this travesty, and I now consider Avengers off of my pull list. 

STORY: 1/5

+/- Meh character work

- Ridiculously confusing

- One of the stupidest character origins I've ever read 

- Oversaturated with ideas

ART: 1/5

-  Close (but not exactly) to Liefeld anatomy

- Weird facial expressions

- Stiff and boring

VERDICT: 1/5

Pull List: 1/30/13

7 days to Super Bowl, and I don't give a flying (REDACTED)! So, here's my pull list to make the day before Mondays better! In case you don't know, here's the drill: Each Sunday, I set up my Pull List, which lists the comics I'm buying this Wednesday. It comes with a free wish list (which catalogs a book a want) and a side of Anti-Wish List (a book that deserves to be wiped off of the face of the Earth, despite not being released yet). so let's go!

PULL LIST

THE AVENGERS #4

by Johnathan Hickman and Adam Kubert

Despite being less enthusiastic about Avengers #3, I'm going to give the title another chance. Mainly because a freaking KUBERT is drawing. 

I, VAMPIRE #16

by Joshua Hale Fiakov and Dennis Calero

Dennis Calero is not Andrea Sorrentino. Joshua Hale Fiakov is Joshua Hale Fiakov. Despite Andrea Sorrentino's departure from the title, I'm going to keep holding on for Andrew Bennett's story, which is rushing to its conclusion with issue 19. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #16

by Jeff Lemire, Ray Fawkes and Mikel Janin

My thoughts on the cover: So that's what Madame Xanadu looks like without botox!

BATMAN INCORPORATED #7

by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

Also near its end, Grant Morrison's Batman run! Batman Inc is Morrison's final sprint towards the finish line, and it's turning out to be the best chapter of his Batman saga yet.

WISH LIST

INVINCIBLE #100

by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley

$50 on Mark Grayson dying at the end.

ANTI-WISH LIST

(not so) SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #2

by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman

OK, let me get this straight. Doc Ock is in Spider-Man's body. Doc Ock is just about as old as Aunt May, since back in the 70's he tried to marry her. Now, he's making out with Mary Jane. Um, gross. 

Deadpool Killustrated #1 Review

DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED #1

by Cullen Bunn and Matteo Lolli

Deadpool already killed the Marvel Universe. Now, it's time for the classics to meet their demise.

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe was fun, but riddled with flaws. It actually tried to be something it wasn't, a serious and thought-provoking story. Now, Cullen Bunn knows what he did wrong, and this first issue is already much better than the aforementioned DKTMU. The biggest improvements from DKTMU in Killustrated is Deadpool himself, and the book's humor. He actually feels like Deadpool, instead just some thug with healing factor. I also like how the book is FUNNY, unlike DKTMU which dragged on with no gags at all. It's actually very entertaining and light-hearted instead of a dark and grim murderfest. However, the book doesn't have anything else to offer. It's not incredibly clever, and there's no explanation for the end of DKTMU. 

Matteo Loli's artwork feels very Deadpool-y, and recalls Ed McGuiness' art from Joe Kelly's character defining run. Lolli's art pops (no pun intended) off the page, especially with the gut-busting murder of Don Quixote.  

Deadpool Killustrated is a surprisingly good sequel to Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe. It's easy to compare it to this month's Savage Wolverine, both of which are just comics meant to be fun, nothing else.

STORY: 3/5

+Surprisingly humorous

+Deadpool feels like Deadpool

-A bit too straightforward

-Nothing else to offer besides murder and humor

ART: 4/5

+Feels like Ed McGuiness

+Great job during Don Quixote's death

VERDICT: 3.5/5

Justice League #16 Review

JUSTICE LEAGUE #16

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Gary Frank

So who did the big "Bigger superhero team" better? Avengers or Justice League?

When I read Justice League #16, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a Polish salute, or Freddie Mercury victory stance. Geoff John's story here is a double edged sword. Justice League feels like  an epic Michael Bay summer blockbuster, but on the other hand, it's all action and action. It seems like Johns just wants action and is willing to give up compelling characters and a smart story. Last month's Justice League was great, but what happened? I mean, it seems like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are being douchebags to Aquaman. So I wouldn't blame him for trying to choke them. I found the entire thing to jarring and incredibly out of character. However, when Cyborg revealed the Grid, I thought DC did the "Opening the ranks of your big superhero squad" event better than Marvel. 

Ivan Reis' art however, looks as great as ever. He really captures the epic feel of the series, especially in one splash in particular. Mostly, I really like his depiction of Batman. Sadly, many of his aged characters look similar. VERY similar.

The SHAZAM! backup is starting to heat up. A little bit. It's moving way too slowly. I mean, not much happens. Black Adam makes Billy wet his pants, and makes him de-Shazam himself and run away. Yeah. Thankfully, Gary Franks' art looks better than usual, and carries the entire feature. 

Justice League #16 is a half-and-half book. Many people will love and hate it at the same time. Me? I'm still not sure.  So...

STORY: 2/5

+Great job with the Grid reveal

+Epic overload

-Flat characters

-The Trinity are uncharacteristic douches

ART: 4/5

+Explosive art

-Old  people look alike

BACKUP: 3/5

+Starting to  get interesting

+Art keeps readers engaged

-Not much actually happens

VERDICT: 3/5

The Avengers #3 Review

THE AVENGERS #3

by Johnathan Hickman and Jerome Opena

The Avengers #3 is surprisingly... READ ON TO FIND OUT!

As I closed my copy of Avengers #3, I found myself surprisingly underwhelmed. Whatever happened to the smart and thought-provoking Avengers we had for the last two issues? For one thing, the Avengers seemed a little bit out of character when they let Ex Nihilo continue to live on Mars. And the entire revelation of the god-like being hidden among the Avengers' extended ranks came out of nowhere, and killed the momentum of the final battle. I am pretty sure Hickman is just setting up future plot points, but I really didn't enjoy this issue too much. I wish the arc was extended for another issue or two. I felt Ex Nihilo's motivations weren't explored enough. On the up side, Hickman's dialogue is strong. 

Jerome  Opena's art is gorgeous. I love the Lenil Yu look he's going for, but I don't think it really meshes with the tone of the book. 

The Avengers #3 is a letdown. I wasn't satisfied with it, and I know the creative team can do much better than this. Sorry guys.

STORY: 2/5

+Good dialogue

-Out of character Avengers

-Anti-climatic final battle

-Villain not explored deeply enough

ART:4/5

+Looks beatiful

-Doesn't match the feel of the book

VERDICT: 3/5

Nightwing #16 Review

NIGHTWING #16

by Kyle Higgins and Ed Barrows

Well, the Joker has proved Cole Porter wrong. Not all the world loves a clown.

Despite how great this issue is, I hate that it's just one glorified teaser for Batman #17. Alright, on with the show. Nightwing #16 is one of the BEST Death of the Family tie-ins yet. The Joker does some pretty despicable things in this issue. Nightwing is a character I enjoy reading, so it's nice to see Higgins get his voice right, unlike the first  few issues of the series. However, a minor gripe I have with the book is the abundance of plot holes. I mean, how did Joker find the time between Batman #16 and the other tie-ins to set up these elaborate schemes? Why did no one notice if he was doing this beforehand? Why did Nightwing only have a few cuts on his face after being whacked in the head with a spiked mallet?

The art is excellent. Ed Barrows' moody art perfectly sets the atmosphere of the book. I particularly love his version of the Joker, who is definitely going to keep me from getting sleep tonight.

Nightwing #16 was surprisingly good. Despite some flaws here and there, I must say, great job Mr. Higgins and Mr. Barrows!

STORY: 3.5/5

+ Good character work

+ Nearly as freaky as Batman #16

-Plot holes, plot holes everywhere!

-Glorified Batman #17 advertisement

ART: 5/5

+Moody and atmospheric

+One of the best Joker depictions yet

VERDICT: 4/5

Pull LIst: 1/23/13

OOOOHHHH YEAH! It's comic book day in t-minus 3 days! And you know what means! Pull list! In case you don't know, Pull List is a weekly column which catalogs the books I'm picking up this week, a book I want this week, and one that I won't touch with a 50-foot long pole. So, let's get started!

FF #3

by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred

I was actually able to pick up FF #2 last month. I  loved it. I ended up dropping the main Fantastic Four series, and FF has been just fine without it. Fraction and Allred have crafted a strange new side of the Marvel U that is incredibly awesome. I look forward to reading this. 

THE AVENGERS #3

by Johnathan Hickman and Jerome Opena

While New Avengers has been a let down, the main Avengers series has been kicking all kinds of ass. Though Ex Nihilo is a lame villain, the Avengers looks like they'll be facing one of their biggest threats yet. 

NIGHTWING #16

by Kyle Higgins and Ed Barrows

With Death of the Family (apparently) bringing out the best in the titles associated with it, I've decided to give ol' Nightwing another chance. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE #16

by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis

Throne of Atlantis has been a hit-or-miss event so far. While Justice League has been spectacular so far, Aquaman has been disappointing so far. I'm really curious to see how Aquaman kicks everyone's butt.

WISH  LIST

YOUNG AVENGERS #1

by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McElvie

I really don't like Jamie McElvie's art, but I've heard way too many good things about Kieron Gillen. I'm willing to give this a try.

ANTI-WISH LIST

SUPERBOY ANNUAL #1

by Tom DeFalco and RB Silva

Superboy is making writing my pull list easier. I can count on this title to be consistently horrible, so when I don't have a  book for the Anti-Wish List, I can rely on Superboy! 

Batman #16 Review

BATMAN #16

by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jock

You know, I just noticed that  the new Joker reminds of this guy: 

So, onto the actual review. What. The. !@#$. This is one of the creepiest and craziest  issues of Batman yet. It's much better than the highly praised Batman #5, but it doesn't reach the heights of issue 12. But it's close. Here, the Joker takes Batman on a creepy tour of Arkham Asylum, which has been turned into a disgusting and terrifying house of horrors. The horrors the Joker has in store are truly sickening, and I don't think many readers will be able to stomach them. I like Snyder's take on the Batman/Joker dynamic, especially here, when he portrays Gotham as a sort of medieval castle. However, I did have one major nitpick against this issue. It feels way too much like Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's Batman: Arkham Asylum. 

Greg Capullo's art seems... different. I'm not sure. Maybe it's just the dark new atmosphere, or maybe it's just that he's using more shadows than usual. And boy, does he know how to draw a horse.

The backup of the issue is slightly boring, but the ending just left my mouth watering. Oh yeah, Jock's art is still pretty awesome.

Death of the Family is getting intense. Though the backup is disappointing, the meat of the book is freaking amazing. 

STORY: 4/5

ART: 5/5

BACKUP: 3/5

VERDICT: 4/5

Top 5: Most Shocking Events of 2012

2012 was a pretty big year for comics. Yeah, I know, you're all tired of suffering through Best of 2012 lists. So instead, I'll just do this: Most Shocking Events of 2012! And I'm not going to include Amazing Spider-Man #700. Because it sucks. 

5. Millar Delivers Two Issues on Time

I've been into comics for quite some time, but I only got into monthly issues in 2011. So, when Supercrooks #1 and #2 came out on time, a lot of my friends were shocked. Millar may be one hell of a writer, but he's a slow one as well. I checked what his past shipping schedules have been like, and it is pretty surprising.

4. "Hi, my name's Gwendolyn."

From Saga #8 

by Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples

When Gwendolyn was first mentioned, I thought she would just be some background character whose presence in the series would go beyond a mere mention. I was wrong. I thought this situation would be a bit like Rick's brother in The Walking Dead, but when she showed up at the end of Saga #8, I was pretty darned shocked.

3. The GCPD Gets High on KRAK

from Batman #13

by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jock

Heh heh. Krak. Anyway, I thought this was one of the scariest moments I've ever read in a comic. As the Joker knocked out the lights of the GCPD building and snapped the necks of every-freaking-one, readers could just hear the KRAK going off in their heads. Terrifying.

2. The Knight Gets High on KRAK

from Batman Incorporated #6

by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

I'm sorry, that pun just keeps coming back to me. Anyways, this was one of the most tragic deaths in comics ever. The Knight has always been an underrated character, and a personal favorite of mine. This was just as bad as watching Peter Parker get blown up in Ultimate Spider-Man #160. (See Slott, this is how you do a good death!) Beryl's reaction was gut-wrenching and tragic, and at least Knight died doing something heroic (SLOTT...)

1.  "M-m-m-- MAGGIE!"

from The Walking Dead  #100

by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

"Heh. Lucille is a vampire bat."

This has got to be one of the most well done deaths in media. I don't think this scene will make  it to TV, but when one of my friends read this, he actually dropped his copy of the book out of shock. Glenn is supposed to be one of the most relatable characters in the show, and he was as fan-favorite as you could possibly get. As he got beaten to death by Negan, I winced each time Lucille hit Glenn's face, eventually turning him into the head smoothie pictured here. I can't get away without mentioning Charlie Adlard. I don't know what kind of pictures he looked at for reference in this scene, and I don't want to know. This was THE most shocking scene of 2012.

Saga #9 Review

SAGA #9

by Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Nice to see Lying Cat act more like a cat. 

Saga #9 just might one of the best issues of this series yet. This is one of the most light-hearted chapters of Saga so far, so you are 100% guaranteed to have fun with this issue. Most reviewers have complained about lack of new reader accessibility, but I don't really mind. If you don't understand the series because you have just jumped on, buy the trade. You're doing yourself a big favor. The book shifts focus from Marko and Alana's side of the story to jump over to the Will and Gwendolyn's side of the story. I think I know where the series is going next, but I'm not sure. The book has toyed with my expectations a lot so far, so I'm not going to take points off for that. So far, I'm loving the Will and Gwendolyn's new partnership. Plus, we discover a little (awesome) secret about the Slave Girl from issue 4, and leads to an intriguing cliffhanger. 

Fiona Staples. FIONA STAPLES. One of the best freaking artists in the business right now. Her art style is so unique that I can't think of a single other artist I can compare her to. Seriously.

So far, Saga has earned all 5/5 reviews from me, and issue 9 doesn't end the trend. Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples  are the hottest creative duo since Morrison and Quitely. 

STORY: 5/5
ART: 5/5
VERDICT: 5/5

Daredevil #22 Review

DAREDEVIL #22

by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

Daredevil meets the Suckperior Spider-Man!

Before I start the review let me just say: I still hate the Superior Spider-Man. Now, the meat of this issue involves Daredevil meeting the Superior Spider-Man, and it feels rather useless. However, Superior Spidey is handled better here than Slott did in Spidey #700. Waid does make the banter between Spidey and Daredevil entertaining, but it's not enough to carry the entire issue. Thankfully, the ending of the issue features a massive twist that will definitely make long-time Daredevil fans (like me) tear up. Seriously, I'm intrigued to  see where the series goes from here!

Chris Samnee pulls out all the stops for this issue. He really brings out his inner Darwyn Cooke influence, as he hammers it up with a light style. The book briefly changes ink style, but it wasn't distracting enough to take my attention away from the story.

Daredevil #22 could have been one of the series best issues, if not for Not-so Superior Spider-Man. Thankfully, everything else about the book is pretty awesome.

NOTE: To long-time Daredevil fans trying to cope with  the ending, here, some advice.

STORY: 3.5/5

ART: 4.5/5

VERDICT: 4/5

The Savage Wolverine #1

THE SAVAGE WOLVERINE #1

by Frank Cho

So, how did Frank Cho do with his writing debut? Is it anything to lose your head over (Whoever read the book will get the joke)? 

It's nice to see the book actually live up to its title. The action in the book is very fast and bloody, like something out of a summer blockbuster. However, Cho's writing leaves quite a bit to be desired. His characterization of Wolverine is overwritten, and his inner monologue makes him sound more like a barber. I felt his handling of Shanna to be too lifeless and boring, and leaves quite a few plot holes. Despite all this, I still enjoyed reading this, like a bad B-movie.

Cho's art has always been his strong suit, and it's always nice to see him tackling an X-Men book. He makes the art pop right off the page, and makes the action incredibly entertaining. 

The Savage Wolverine #1 is pure mindless fun. Check your brain in at the door, and get ready for one wild ride, despite how bad the writing can get. 

STORY: 2/5

ART: 5/5

VERDICT: 3.5/5

Pull List: 1/16/13

It's Sunday. This is a comic book blog. It's my blog. Read the title. What do you think this is? For anyone new, my Pull List column is where I catalog the books I'm buying this week, one I want, and one I won't touch with a 50-yard pole. To quote Heath Ledger from "The Dark Knight": "Where do we... Begin?"

PULL LIST

BATMAN #16

by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and Jock

According to Scott Snyder,  he actually had to apologize to Greg Capullo for the horrible stuff he's having him draw. So, whatever's in this issue is more shocking than the Joker's new look, the massacre in the GCPD building, the maze scene in Batman #5, and the dream in issue 15. I'm in.

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #3

by Mark Waid and Lenil Yu

Indestructible Hulk has been a blast to read from the start. I'm not a fan of Walter Simonson's art, so I'm savoring every last bit of Lenil Yu's time on the title.

THE SAVAGE WOLVERINE #1

by Frank Cho

Frank Cho is such a great artist, he turned a pure piece of !@#$ like Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates and made it a true work of art. I'm not entirely sure about Cho writing this, as my expectations for writers/artists are pretty low (Tony Daniel's Detective Comics). However, I'm still willing to give this try. Anyway, writer/artists aren't always failures (Lee Bermejo's Batman: Noel).

SAGA #9

by Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Will the Will actually reunite with the Stalk, or is it just a flashback or dream? I really, really need to find out... 

DAREDEVIL #22

by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

I still hate the Superior Spider-Man. But, Mark Waid might be the one to change my mind, as he has been one of the most consistently great writers  Marvel has to offer.

WISH LIST

FRANKENSTEIN: AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E #16

by Matt Kindt and Alberto Ponticelli

I feel so guilty. Frankenstein was one of my favorite titles to pop out of the New 52, and now it's gone. I didn't really support it much though, since I only got the trade. I'll be sad to see him go, but at least he's a member of the Justice League Dark now!

ANTI-WISH LIST

SUPERBOY #16

by Tom DeFalco and RB Silva

For three months in a row, Superboy has made the Anti-Wish List. My friends keep telling me, "Oh, at least give this issue a flip through! It's much better than the last!". And I do. And it still sucks. Completely. DC should be ashamed this  is coming out. Though DC isn't making as many mistakes as Marvel right now, keeping DeFalco on Superboy and hiring Liefeld are still big mistakes. Who would want to buy a book with overdramatic dialogue, annoying and unlikable characters, and lame villains? Not me.

Top 5: Best Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale Stories

I'm going to be honest with you. I really, really hate Jeph Loeb's recent works. I loathe them to the point where in 8th grade, I wrote a freaking 3-page poem about them. (I named it "Elegy to Jeph Loeb's Greatness) However, his past works from the 90's to early 2000's were actually very good. In fact, I would say some of them are some of my favorite books. As I was compiling this list, I only had Top 5 Jeph Loeb stories in mind. As I had all of my picks in line, I realized that Tim Sale was the artist for all of them. So here it is, because nobody demanded it, my Top 5 Favorite Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale stories!

5. SPIDER-MAN: BLUE

Spider-Man: Blue was basically just a love letter to Spider-Man's past. As you read this, you can feel the love Loeb has for the character (which Dan Slott doesn't have)(which is surprising, because in Ultimatum he tried killing off Ultimate Spidey, only for Bendis to keep him alive in Pete's own title). Tim Sale's art tried to capture the classic Steve Ditko feel, making the book like a lost Spider-Man story from the late 60's. 

4. DAREDEVIL: YELLOW 

Daredevil is one of my personal favorite characters Marvel has in their arsenal. I feel blessed to be a Daredevil fan, since we're getting such a great DD series right now. Daredevil: Yellow has everything I love about the character crammed into one book. It's no Born Again, or Frank Miller's Elektra saga, but it's still incredibly good. Loeb uses the many villains of Matt Murdock's rogue gallery to create a tribute to Stan Lee's original Daredevil run.

3. BATMAN: HAUNTED KNIGHT

Haunted Knight was 3 stories all in one. Each one was a Batman adventure that took place on Halloween. While one wasn't the best, the other two are some of Loeb and Sale's best work. The Mad Hatter story was very creepy, and defined the underused villain for years to come. The Scarecrow story was very brutal, and  devled into Batman's first encounter with hm.

2. SUPERMAN: FOR ALL SEASONS

Superman: For All Seasons is my favorite Superman story, second only to Alan Moore's "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?". Superman: For All Seasons was told through the eyes of Pa Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang, showing what each of these characters thought of him. I thought issue 2 was the highpoint of the series, which delved into what effect Superman had on Metropolis in his first few months.

1. BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN

Batman: The Long Halloween is the story that inspired Christopher Nolan's the Dark Knight. This is the definitive Two-Face story in my opinion, adding a new layer to his tragic origin. Though Loeb recycled the format of the Long Halloween for "Dark Victory" and "Hush", making both of them incredibly predictable and bland, the Long Halloween crafted a shocking and intense murder mystery. I would say below  any of Frank Miller or Grant Morrison's work with the character, this is one of the best Batman stories ever told. 

Animal Man #16 Review

ANIMAL MAN #16

by Jeff Lemire, Steve Pugh and Timothy Green

Just when you thought Green Lanterns couldn't get lamer than Guy Gardner... Comes Medphyll. 

I named Animal Man as my favorite series  of 2012, and I think it deserves the title. Now, many of the reasons I love the series is for its characters and plot. The plot is moving along rather slowly, and this issue felt like Jeff Lemire was just trying to cram as many cameos  as possible  into one issue. The flashbacks involving Maxine comes to  its tragic conclusion, which is just as frightening as it was in the previous issues. Now, most of the characters in the book are just as strong as ever, except for one. Medphyll. He is one of the most lifeless and bland characters I have ever read. If I were Animal Man, I would just choose to leave him to ROT (no pun intended) in Metropolis. He feels incredibly useless. Thankfully, the rest of the story runs along smoothly. 

Steve Pugh and Timothy Green do a spectacular job. While the transition between artists is still jarring, both artists did their best. Timothy Green makes Maxine's story absolutely creepy while Steve Pugh evokes a bit of Charlie Adlard in the future side.

Animal  Man #16 is a surprisingly weak issue for one of my favorite series of 2012. I hope the conclusion to Rotworld is every bit as epic as I hope it well be, but the calm before the storm is only average/

STORY: 3/5

ART: 4/5

VERDICT: 3.5/5

The Secret Service #5

THE SECRET SERVICE #5

by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

Everything makes sense now!  The Secret Service #5 reveals the big plan Doctor Arnold has in store for the world. It's not terribly original, but the connection between the filmmakers is genius. 

Taking off from the last issue, we get to see Gary beat up his stepfather, and it's a very satisfying fight scene. Afterwards, Gary and his uncle Jack head out to find out what Arnold  is planning. They go about this by seducing his girlfriend in one of the funniest sequences in a comic ever. This is the best issue of the series Millar has cranked out yet. You're sucked into the story. No matter how over the top it gets, Millar keeps you engaged with his realistic characters, and plot twist. Now, I saw the ending coming from miles away, but I was still shocked when I turned to the final page. When a writer can make a predictable scene still surprise you, you know he did a great job.

On the other hand, Dave Gibbons only does an okay job. His work can feel a bit stiff at times, and some of his faces need work. However, it did feel like he put a lot of work into the opening fight scene, but the art falls a bit flat for the rest of the book. 

The Secret Service #5 served its purpose as a great penultimate chapter to Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons' secret agent story. Though the art was slightly lackluster, the story blew me away, especially with the conclusion.

STORY: 5/5

ART: 3/5

VERDICT: 4/5

Star Wars #1

STAR WARS #1

by Brian Wood and Carlos D'Ana

Star Wars #1 is the new official ongoing flagship series for Star Wars side of Dark Horse. How does it hold up?

Reading Star Wars #1 feels like watching one of those old episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network. Neither of them are necessary, just a little something to give you more Star Wars. As someone venturing into Star Wars comics for the first time, I really had fun reading this. Brian Wood is able to capture the  individual voices of the colorful cast of characters, especially Leia. However, I thought his depiction of Luke was too whiny. I really enjoyed the dynamic he portrayed between Han and Chewie, which felt so dynamic, it was like George Lucas wrote it himself. One major nitpick I had with the book was the unneeded recap of A New Hope. I'm pretty sure the audience of the book would have seen all  6 Star Wars movies at least twice, so I was annoyed by it.

Carlos D'Ana's art is perfect for this book. D'Ana is able to create huge and awesome action scenes, and his attention to detail is amazing.

Star Wars #1 is a success, and I'm going to come back for the next issue. Congratulations Mr. Wood and Mr. D'Ana. You just made a fan out of someone who's never read a Star Wars comic before. 

STORY: 3.5/5

ART: 4.5/5

VERDICT: 4/5

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Pull List: 1/9/13

It's the very first Pull List I've written  this year! Last week didn't count, because I wrote it on the 30th. So, let's get started!

PULL LIST

ANIMAL MAN #16

by Jeff Lemire and Steve Pugh

The last issue left a lot of questions unanswered. Who is the Green Lantern trapped in Metropolis? Whatever happened to Maxine? Why were Constantine and Black Widow snuggling? And why does a giraffe wearing a beret look so funny? So, I'm picking this up to see if my questions were answered.

STAR WARS #1

by Brian Wood and Carlos D'Ana

For once, Star Wars actually has a flagship comic series. Apparently, this takes place between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. Sounds interesting. 

DETECTIVE COMICS #16

by John Layman, Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke

Detective Comics has been awesome so far, and I'm sure it will continue to be awesome as long as Layman is writing it. Let's hope this issue will be as good as the last few.

THE SECRET SERVICE #5 

by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons

What the heck took so long? It feels like we've been waiting for years for this issue. Now that it's finally here, let's rejoice that we'll finally get to see Gary's stepfather get his comeuppance. 

WISH LIST

SWEET TOOTH #40

by Jeff Lemire

So it's finally here. The end of Sweet Tooth, Vertigo's  second best title that's currently being published. Let's hope Jeff Lemire gives Gus and Jepperd the happy ending they deserve, eh?

ANTI-WISH LIST

THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1

by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman

Dan Slott, why do you hate Spider-Man so much? What makes you think a supervillain could replace the heart and soul of the Marvel Universe? Just the thought of this makes my blood boil. Now, I was able to read ASM #700 at a comic shop nearby, and I just want to say it SUCKED. Not only the idea of the new Spider-Man, but the execution was terrible. A: Spider-Man didn't die heroically. Quick list of people  that died a more heroic death than Spidey: Uncle Ben, Jason Todd, Hawkeye, Rorschach, random black guy from Supergirl #3. B: Just showing Doc Ock what drives him doesn't make him Spider-Man. C: The art didn't suit the story. D: Boring and lifeless backups, whose presence was just to make the book $7.99. So, SUPERIOR retains the same writer as ASM #700. And for some reason, Marvel seems proud of their decision to kill off their most popular character, just to boost sales slightly. So, consider me avoiding this book like the plague.