What I've enjoyed about this book from the get-go is the fact that, even though it's basically a stealth X-Men tie-in title, it's always kept Tony rigWhat I've enjoyed about this book from the get-go is the fact that, even though it's basically a stealth X-Men tie-in title, it's always kept Tony right at the centre of it. Even here, with Orchis at Tony's front door, it never feels like he's just being swept up in something. He's been planning his own counterattack since Feilong attacked him in the first few issues, and this is all of his chickens coming home to roost. So even when Emma Frost and Magneto share a lot of the page count, there's no mistaking this for anything but an Iron Man book.
And if you want big armour fights, you're in luck - there's an issue in this volume that's entirely splash pages of Tony kicking absolute Orchis ass.
Probably not an Iron Man run that will go down in history, but it comes to a solid conclusion that resolves itself nicely, and says everything Duggan set out to say. Good stuff....more
The longest running TMNT series comes to a conclusion as a time-devouring shark runs rampant across time and space, and it's all...Donatello's fault? The longest running TMNT series comes to a conclusion as a time-devouring shark runs rampant across time and space, and it's all...Donatello's fault? Oops.
I think what drags this final arc of the series down is that it's a little convoluted, even for a time travel plot. QNA, magic, Meggadon, time-travelling Bobs, and Renet are just a little too much for six issues. They're dense, and never slow, but I definitely felt like I was just going 'yeah okay that might as well happen' by the time things were winding down. It doesn't feel as much like an ending as a new beginning, which is nice since we're not losing this continuity even when the book relaunches, but this definitely didn't have the punch that I'd hoped it'd have for the last arc of a long-running series....more
You'd never know this book was only meant to run twelve issues, because these six follow on nicely from the first two volumes. The fallout from Ivy's You'd never know this book was only meant to run twelve issues, because these six follow on nicely from the first two volumes. The fallout from Ivy's lamia plan continues, invading Slaughter Swamp and bringing trouble literally to Ivy's door. As she tries to rope in help from Killer Croc, Harley, and everyone's favourite third wheel Janet-From-HR, there's a horrible sense of dread that someone else is behind this - someone we thought was gone for good.
I just really enjoy this series. Ivy's POV is written in a really compelling way, and G. Willow Wilson is building up this neat supporting cast of familiar faces and new ones around Pam that keep things moving. Mysterious new villain Undyne is a striking visual, and of course, the less said about the actual villain of the piece the better.
Series artist Marcio Takara draws three of the six issues here, with Luana Vecchio taking the other two, and issue 13 being a bit of a jam session with lots of contributors. Ivy's got a striking visual style, and everyone fits quite nicely while bringing their own flavour.
I wanna make a joke about how this book is growing on me, but I think it's already taken root, actually. [Sorry.]...more
X-Force enter the Fall Of X just as everything goes wrong and Beast makes his final move, for better or worse.
For a book that's been building up to thX-Force enter the Fall Of X just as everything goes wrong and Beast makes his final move, for better or worse.
For a book that's been building up to this confrontation for fifty issues, this final arc, even with the extra page count on issue 50, feels rushed. There are good ideas here, like bringing in Wonder Man to appeal to Beast's better nature, and even the way they resolve the Beast plot in general is pretty clever, but it's all done very quickly and a little slapdash, which isn't what this series has prided itself on for the past 50 issues.
A damn shame, really. It's not a bad ending, but there's definitely a 'Oh, is that it?' feeling when the dust settles....more
There are so many Arrow-related characters, and I'm sure most people forget about them. Joshua Williamson isn't one of them. With Oliver still all oveThere are so many Arrow-related characters, and I'm sure most people forget about them. Joshua Williamson isn't one of them. With Oliver still all over the place in terms of timelines and realities, the other Arrow characters rally around Roy Harper to rescue him, even if it brings them right into the crosshairs (ha, arrow pun) of Amanda Waller.
DC does family better than anyone else, and there's a good reason for this volume to be called Family First. It feels like a return to the Green Arrow series of old, with everyone and anyone working in tandem, even characters that we haven't seen much of lately, like Red Canary, and Cheshire.
Plus the art's lovely - Sean Isaakze is still a beautiful penciller, and Phil Hester is no stranger to Oliver's world.
Superb. Nostalgic and progressive all at once....more
Quintessential Percy. Task goes wrong, Percy and co. blunder their way through solving it, while making me laugh like a mad man on every page, with a Quintessential Percy. Task goes wrong, Percy and co. blunder their way through solving it, while making me laugh like a mad man on every page, with a heartfelt ending. Can't really ask for more.
I do kinda like how even though this and the previous book didn't have a whole 'the world will end!!!!' type threat, they still felt really important to Percy on a personal level....more
Not entirely sure why this is a giant hardcover, but sure, why not.
These nine issues, the entire Deception, Blue Wraith, and Dark Fortress mini-seriesNot entirely sure why this is a giant hardcover, but sure, why not.
These nine issues, the entire Deception, Blue Wraith, and Dark Fortress mini-series, finish off the story that began in Magekiller and Knight Errant, as all your friends from those books are joined by a couple of new faces, and Fenris, because everyone loves Fenris.
There are at least two gut-punches across these nine issues that actually made me sad; I didn't expect to be this invested in these characters so quickly, and yet there I was, disappointed when something bad happened. I'm kinda hopeful that these guys get a nod in Veilguard, even just a piece of paper with their names on would make me smile, because they deserve it after the crap they've gone through here.
And what I really like is that these stories feel important to the world of Dragon Age. The Red Lyrium problem that Knight-Commander Crazy Bitch set off across Kirkwall and beyond continues to grow, as does the ongoing incursion of the Qunari into Tevinter. It's such a big, living, breathing world, and these stories fit right in.
The artwork is all by Fernando Heinz Furukawa, so the creative team is a complete carry-over from Knight Errant, and looks just as good. Some of the expressions can get a little wonky, and I'm not sure why the Mabari looks so odd sometimes, but overall it's a solid visual, with plenty of backgrounds and gory battle scenes.
Excellent stuff - I just wish the book was a little smaller!...more
This collects The Silent Grove, Those Who , Until We Sleep, Mage Killer, and Knight Errant in their entireProbably more of a 4.5, but I'm a good mood.
This collects The Silent Grove, Those Who , Until We Sleep, Mage Killer, and Knight Errant in their entirety, all of which are canon Dragon Age tales.
The first three form one long story featuring Alistair, Isabela, and Varric as they attempt to discover what happened to Alistair's father, King Maric. These three are based on stories by David Gaider himself, so that's nice, and it's fun to spend some quality time with Isabela - I feel like I learned a lot more about her here than I ever did in Dragon Age II. Chad Hardin draws all of these issues - I miss his interiors, I feel like he's disappeared from comics recently.
Mage Killer introduces Marius and Tessa (who also pop up for a moment in Knight Errant, and in the next three mini-series not collected here). These two are interesting, though the five issues here jump around a LOT as the characters get embroiled in Tevinter madness and the Inquisition itself. This is written by Greg Rucka (yeah, him) and drawn by Carmen Carnero in one of her earliest comics forays I believe.
And then lastly Knight Errant features some more returning faces plus new characters Ser Aaron Hawthorne and Vaea, who robs from the rich to feed the poor and avenge her fallen elven siblings. This is by Nunzio DeFillipis and Christina Weir, who've teamed up on so many books at this point - Academy X is the one I always remember. The art's from an artist I've never seen before, Fernando Heinz Furukawa, who does a great job also, even with a little more of a cartoony edge.
I devoured all of this in two days. I know I'm probably just excited for Veilguard, but I really did enjoy all the stories here a lot....more
The third of the three JSA tie-in mini-series, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern delves into Alan's life as a closeted gay man in the 40s, betrayed by hisThe third of the three JSA tie-in mini-series, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern delves into Alan's life as a closeted gay man in the 40s, betrayed by his country, his lover, and his powers all at once.
Tim Sheridan's last DC solo series, Teen Titans Academy was...not very good, unfortunately. Alan Scott however is a return to form, a careful look at a sensitive subject and a damn good superhero story at the same time. Without upending all of Alan's background or origins, it spins a compelling yarn about two men on opposite sides of so many different things, who are fighting to get back to one another even if they're not realising they're doing it.
Cian Tormey, he of the Superman: Son Of Kal-El success, does well here too, with some great colours and a style that fits both the 40s and the present day stuff just as well.
Also, extra points because Obsidian's here. I love Obsidian....more
Some of the layers are peeled back, and the truth behind the Undernet, PH3AR, and Gabriel Winter starts coming to light. There's a lot of characters rSome of the layers are peeled back, and the truth behind the Undernet, PH3AR, and Gabriel Winter starts coming to light. There's a lot of characters running around, and I think I'll probably need to re-read this at some point to make sure I know who's who for when the series returns, but I'm definitely enraptured by whatever the hell's going on here.
What's that Benoit Blanc gif? Makes god damn no sense - compels me, though....more
I like the idea of this book more than the execution, I think. There are some plot points I really enjoy - Harley going back to teaching (as insane asI like the idea of this book more than the execution, I think. There are some plot points I really enjoy - Harley going back to teaching (as insane as that sounds), the domestic stuff with Ivy is cute, and even Bud & Lou being a little more than they appear. But then there's a lot of stuff that I think just doesn't work - Harley's multiversal crisis is just too big for a character like her, and when she's smacking OMACs and dealing with Lady Quark, it all feels like a story written for another character that Harley's sledgehammered her way into, and not in a good way.
The artwork's great at least - Sweeney Boo's got a very distinct bubblegum-like style that I enjoy, and it suits Harley well, but again, making them draw weird multiverse stuff instead of something a little more down to earth feels like a waste.
A swing and a miss, even with a big hammer....more
Jake Gomez is the inheritor of a curse that extends back through his ancestral line. As a Native American/Mexican who lives on a reservation, he's tryJake Gomez is the inheritor of a curse that extends back through his ancestral line. As a Native American/Mexican who lives on a reservation, he's trying to use his werewolf powers to look out for the little guys. Of course, the corporation that he's working for seems to be experimenting on people. Enter Red Wolf (not a werewolf), and it's time for a team-up.
Solid. Could probably have done with another issue or so to really flesh out the ending, but this is a good introduction to this new iteration of a classic character. I did expect Jack Russell to show up somewhere just because, but Red Wolf was a good addition to the cast to keep things moving. Jake himself is a good kid trying to deal with a bad world, and I'd like to see him again, so I'd say this origin mini-series did its job.
The art's fairly bland - Scot Eaton's usually a really good artist, and there's nothing wrong with this per se, but it just feels kinda flat. I don't know if perhaps it's a colouring issue. The thumbnails from co-writer B. Earl that he sent Scot as part of the writing process in the back of the book were hilarious however....more
The Gotham Nocturne continues as Batman heads into conflict with the Orghams, only to find that perhaps this might be one battle he won't be able to wThe Gotham Nocturne continues as Batman heads into conflict with the Orghams, only to find that perhaps this might be one battle he won't be able to win. Fighting on both the physical and mental planes, all might actually be lost this time.
Yeah, look, you know I eat this stuff up by now. Ram V's distinct voice for Detective Comics is exactly what I love, and his story is both straight forward and deep as hell. The back-up stories revisit some familiar faces, enhancing the main book and also shedding some light on the villain characters in ways that the main story doesn't have time to do.
And of course the artwork remains stellar, with contributions once again from Ivan Reis, Stefano Raffaele, Goran Sudzuka, Dustin Nguyen, and Francesco Francavilla. What more could you want?...more
Remember those mutants that got voted into the new X-Men team just as the Hellfire Gala got obliterated by Orchis? Yeah, they're back - and it's up toRemember those mutants that got voted into the new X-Men team just as the Hellfire Gala got obliterated by Orchis? Yeah, they're back - and it's up to them to travel across Moira's timelines and find a weak spot that Professor Xavier can exploit to make sure all the horrible things they've been fighting to prevent don't come to pass.
This was good fun actually. A proper companion piece of Fall/Rise, just as much as X-Men Forever if not more so, honestly. The team have a good dynamic, there's a clear mission (even if it's a little messy in terms of the grander scheme of things), and the premise fits neatly between the pages of the larger plot that's going on elsewhere. It does have one of those 'you need to read this book to find out how it ends!' types of endings, but that's to be expected, honestly.
The artwork's a bit of a jam session, with each issue having two or three artists since each one takes a different timeline. It works well enough, though some of the styles are a little too samey to really stand out from one another.
Dead X-Men proves that everything happens for a reason - sometimes you just have to wait a sec to work out what it is....more
The Penguin is actually a semi-sequel to Tom King's Batman: Killing Time, bringing back a couple of characters from there, including Agent [expletive The Penguin is actually a semi-sequel to Tom King's Batman: Killing Time, bringing back a couple of characters from there, including Agent [expletive of choice], and The Help. One of these is more fun than the other, because Agent [swear word]'s gimmick wears thin after about three pages, while The Help is just superb whenever he's around.
But that's not what we're here for. We're here for a Penguin story. Tasked by the US Government to come out of retirement (read: pretending to be dead) and retake Gotham City's organized crime, Oswald Cobblepot has nothing to work with, and that's where he thrives. Over the course of these twelve issues, he accumulates assistance both familiar and new, weaves a web of lies around himself that protects him from his children, the Batman, and retribution in general. It's a masterpiece of plotting on Oswald's part, and it's got the most bittersweet ending I've read in a while too. Yeah, we all get what we want - but what do we have to lose to get it?
The artwork is mostly by Rafael De La Torre, whose neon noir style was kicking up a storm over on Daredevil for a bit. There's also a two issue arc that flashes back to Oswald's first years as the Penguin with art by Riddler: Year One artist Stevan Subic, whose depiction of Oswald is both terrifying and sympathetic all at once.
Another excellent entry into the Tom King line of 12 issue maxi-series that make you think, and make you question everything you thought you knew about the characters you know and loathe.
The Penguin is actually a semi-sequel to Tom King's Batman: Killing Time, bringing back a couple of characters from there, including Agent [expletive The Penguin is actually a semi-sequel to Tom King's Batman: Killing Time, bringing back a couple of characters from there, including Agent [expletive of choice], and The Help. One of these is more fun than the other, because Agent [swear word]'s gimmick wears thin after about three pages, while The Help is just superb whenever he's around.
But that's not what we're here for. We're here for a Penguin story. Tasked by the US Government to come out of retirement (read: pretending to be dead) and retake Gotham City's organized crime, Oswald Cobblepot has nothing to work with, and that's where he thrives. Over the course of these twelve issues, he accumulates assistance both familiar and new, weaves a web of lies around himself that protects him from his children, the Batman, and retribution in general. It's a masterpiece of plotting on Oswald's part, and it's got the most bittersweet ending I've read in a while too. Yeah, we all get what we want - but what do we have to lose to get it?
The artwork is mostly by Rafael De La Torre, whose neon noir style was kicking up a storm over on Daredevil for a bit. There's also a two issue arc that flashes back to Oswald's first years as the Penguin with art by Riddler: Year One artist Stevan Subic, whose depiction of Oswald is both terrifying and sympathetic all at once.
Another excellent entry into the Tom King line of 12 issue maxi-series that make you think, and make you question everything you thought you knew about the characters you know and loathe....more
Matt's battle against the Seven Deadly Sins brings him into conflict with friend and foe alike, as an old enemy reasserts himself as the head of the NMatt's battle against the Seven Deadly Sins brings him into conflict with friend and foe alike, as an old enemy reasserts himself as the head of the New York underworld, and even two Daredevils aren't enough to even slow him down.
This is basically just the second half of the story that started last volume, and by the end of this one, everything's been turned on its head. Ahmed continues to balance superheroics with religious quandries, and the little subplot featuring the kids Matt's looking after at his day job is a fun addtion to the mix too.
There's also some bonus stuff included here, since issue #10 was a 60th Anniversary Special for Daredevil, and the Giant-Size Daredevil issue that reintroduced that villain I mentioned before he showed up properly in the main series. A lot of bang for your buck for only six issues....more
I wasn't massively sold on the first volume of Void Rivals, but this second one really grabbed me.
Darak and Solila are on the run from both of their pI wasn't massively sold on the first volume of Void Rivals, but this second one really grabbed me.
Darak and Solila are on the run from both of their peoples, and their only hope for salvation is the inhospitable wasteland where no one lives...except perhaps a certain robot in disguise. And of course, what's a terrible desert full of sandstorms without a bounty hunter on your tail too?
The deeper connection to the Transformers mythos helps a lot here I think, but our main characters are the heart and soul of it all. It's nice that they don't get along perfectly even after 12 issues. I also quite like the strange little subplot with Bebop and Rockste- I mean, Skuxxoid and his little lizard pal, which seems to be set to dovetail nicely with the main story.
There's also an 8 page story collected in the back here from the Free Comic Book Day Energon Universe special that actually made my jaw drop....more
Beneath the trees where nobody sees, is the perfect place to hide the bodies.
In a town populated by anthropomorphic animals, one unsuspecting bear is Beneath the trees where nobody sees, is the perfect place to hide the bodies.
In a town populated by anthropomorphic animals, one unsuspecting bear is actually a serial killer. But oddly enough, she's not the problem - when a new killer moves in, a much sloppier one, the delicate balance that she has set up is threatened. Because if he gets found out, it won't be long before she is either...
This is truly superb. The almost cutesy art style clashes wonderfully with the heavier subject matter, and makes the horrific murders really stand out. It's odd to find yourself rooting for a serial killer, but hey, that's the brief. There's a good little mystery, the supporting characters are good enough that losing some of them during the six issue run actually hurts, and the ultimate conclusion feels like the right one.
The entirety of Nancy Collins' Swamp Thing run is collected here, including both annuals and the closing two-parter crossover with Black Orchid.
This iThe entirety of Nancy Collins' Swamp Thing run is collected here, including both annuals and the closing two-parter crossover with Black Orchid.
This is a chunky book, at around 30 issues, give or take, and it feels exactly like I've come to expect Swamp Thing stuff from this era to feel. There's a nice return to the horror angle, which was one of the reasons Collins was brought on in the first place, and not just the gross-out kind but also the 'actually humans are terrible' kind too.
And of course, all the things you hope to see in a Swamp Thing story show up too - Anton Arcane is here, the Parliament Of Trees show up, Constantine's around more often than he's not, and the dynamic between Abby, Alec, and little baby Tefé causes some fun (and not so fun) story beats too.
This is a complete run, and it's a complete story, but the ending is a little depressing, without going into too much detail. I get why, because it's a horror story and even when you win, you lose, but still, be prepared to be sad when you get to the end.
The art's solid Swamp Thing fare, with that 80s-90s Vertigo house style so that even when the artists swap between issues, everything looks fairly similar, though that could just be because the inker and colourist stay the same almost throughout.
I'm glad DC are collecting some of the as-yet-uncollected Swamp Thing tales from this era. I like filling in the gaps, and I especially like it when the stories are as compelling as this.
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