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DC Universe: Last Will and Testament One Shot review

Author: Brad Meltzer
Penciler: Adam Kubert
Inkers: Joe Kubert & John Dell
Colors: Alex Sinclair

As many of you know, I really haven't been a fan of Meltzer's comics. While I think he is a great fan, unlike Johns that doesn't automatically make him a great comic writer as well. Sure I like my share of emotional focus on the characters and padded storylines, but it got repetitive every time I read a comic he wrote. If you've ever wondered what his next 12 issues of Justice League of America would have been like....well here you go!

The story kicks off with a monologue by Geo Force. He has finally achieved his power's height and is showing this to the reader by holding his fucking hand over a candle. This is how you show nothing can hurt a hero. After proving to his audience that he is ready to take on the man who killed his sister, he has a talk with Black Lightning. The rest of the heroes are acting like it's the last day on Earth and Black Canary is the only one with the balls to stand up and never give up. Members of the JSA and JLA are shown visiting their families or talking to friends and have just seemed to give up on fighting till the end. We finally get a fight at the end that was pretty dark for Geo Force, but he finally gets his revenge on a story that happened over 20 years ago.

I'm not sure why all the heroes seem to be depressed instead of leading a counter attack against this dark force. What exactly is going on out there anyway? Meltzer never really makes it clear why this Crisis is worse than the previous ones. Do we need Earth Superman to come in and show these cats that real heroes never give up? There is a moment in the comic where Tim seems to be jealous of the bond that Bruce and Dick have and we learn that Diana knows nothing of love. The main focus of the story is really Geo Force and his final quenching of revenge. I have to say that was a pretty intense battle with Deathstroke and it seems that Geo Force finally overcame his family's destiny and managed to take down the Terminator. I have always loved seeing those C-list characters shine like this. It's apparent that Meltzer did too and now that the story line is over, it's clear that Geo-Force would serve no purpose in the JLA if this had been the next 12 issues of Meltzer's run on the book.

It's so great seeing Adam and his dad work together. I'm sure drawing those Batman, Robin, and Nightwing pages really made them feel good they are doing what they really love. The art was great and it really intensified the fight between Geo and Deathstroke. I really wish the guy could do a monthly book, but who knows maybe projects like this is what he is made for. This actually feels like a tie-in that really does what that word means; ties in directly to the events of the main book. It's hard to tell you to buy this book, because it's not really necessary and a price point of a gallon of gas doesn't help it. C+

Runaways vol.3 # 1 Review

Author: Terry Moore
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Dave Meikis
Colors: Christina Strain

The only remaining Marvel Tsunami title is still running away. What a horrible way to start a review. Sometimes I really surprise myself with how cheesy I sound, but it's been a long day and that's all I got. This is a new volume with a new creative team. Terry Moore of Strangers in Paradise fame and Humberto Ramos of Impulse, Revelations, and Wolverine's humongo neck fame start the new adventures of our underage heroes, back to where it all started California.

The kids coming back from their trip to 1907 are looking for a new home. I do believe this book does take place after the events in Runaways/Young Avengers Secret Invasion miniseries. They finally find a place in Malibu, but it seems that Nico has decided that Chase must get a job since he is the only one that is 18 years old. With the little money they have, the team goes to the mall and Klara gets a crash course on YouTube and the food court. Chase is trying to get a job with a local DJ, who seems to have unusual powers of suggestion and a group of Majesdanians come to Earth looking for Karolina. It seems that she is wanted for the death of billions of her own race. There is also an interest cameo by Kevin Smith. Guy is still immortal in the funnies, even though he never finished that Daredevil Target book.

I'm so glad that the series is still growing strong, but I really do miss the days of BKV and Alphona. I guess Vaughn really knew how to handle Chase and it seems that Whedon really missed the growth in the character, which in turn makes Moore write Chase like the character he was at the beginning of the series, not the character he's become. Everyone else seems to be acting in character though. I'm curious as to what happened between Xavin and Karolina in the Secret Invasion mini, because they don't seem like a couple anymore. The most important thing is still here though, and that is the wonderful interaction the teens have with each other. It's what made me stick around with Whedon's run and why I think Moore is a fantastic choice to take these kids into future stories.

The tone of the book seems to be trying to capture a more youthful audience than previously. Of course I'm not just talking about the plot and character interactions, but the tone that Ramos is using. It seems his art has really gone to complete manga instead of just being influenced by the Eastern art style. Nothing wrong with that, because it really works with this book. At times it seems a bit rush and the characters look awkward or it's hard to tell them apart, which leaves it to the colors to keep things clear. Not a bad start and I'm curious where this intergalactic battle goes. B

DCU Classics series 3 Robin Review

This review was submitted by Chaz M:

I've been waiting for a fully articulated version of Tim Drake's Robin (one of my favorite characters) in his post-Infinite Crisis costume for a while. It was excited to see that Mattel's DC Universe Classics, the successor to their DC Superheroes line, released him along with other DC regulars in their third wave of action figures.

Packaging

These figures look great on the pegs. The bubble is a large square that spans the entire blister card with "DC Univers" written on the top. The front of the card is an orange and black collage of comic panels featuring the characters in the series. The back shows actual images of the other figures of course and gives character stats like Marvel Legends. The annoying part of the packaging is when you're ready to open it. Because the bubble is as big as the blister card, I found it hard to seperate them without ripping the card, which bothered me since I have a habit of saving the blister cards of my figures. Also, Robin is pretty difficult to remove; I found myself using a smal pair of sissors to cut the plastic around his cape so that I wouldn't damage it.

Sculpt

This Robin figure is very nicely sculpted. He definately resembeles Tim Drake and there's a good amount of detail in his hair. His utility belt is nice and bulky like the Batman figures from this lineup. The "R" symbol is sculpted on rather than painted which is always a plus. The cape is made of soft plastic rather than cloth which is definately the right choice since it's longer than that of his previous costume. It's molded in ridges to look almost like a robin's wings like in the comics. My two complaints on the superb sculpt of this toy would be the hands which aren't molded quite well enough to hold the accessories sturdy and the leg stance which is a bit too wide for my taste, like the DCSH Superman. Theres also a little nich in the cape. All around, the sculpt is the highlite of the figure.

Paints

The color choices are fantastic: a dark shade of red with blacks and yellows on different areas of the costume with consistant shades and gloss levels. My figure has some bad application in certain areas; a white speck on his cheak and black splattering off of his right glove and outside-underwear.

Articulation

This figure is for the most part fully articulated: arms with a ball joint for the biscep and shoulder, legs and hips, and a stomach joint that we've come to expect from DCSH/Classics and Marvel Legends. Although there is no articulation in his neck or wrists.

Accessories

Robin has a nice arscinal of accesories, a silver staff and three batarangs. He also comes with the left arm of the Solomon Grundy "Collect & Connect" figure. The arm is detailed and heavy, I'd say that the assembled Grundy is a nice figure worth building.

Final Thoughts

I was interested in this figure the most from this wave and he did not dissapoint. He's a step above the previously released DCSH Robin which did not have enough articulation and was too tall (making the two not look that good together). I reccomend this figure and based on this I'd say that the others from the wave are just as good. There's a good line up of characters in DCU Classics series 3, so get em' while they're hot on the pegs. B+.

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds # 1 Review

Author: Geoff Johns
Pencils: George Perez
Inks: Scott Koblish
Colors: Hi-Fi

I'll be the first to admit that Legion of Superheroes has been a comic I have avoided like an STD. Well successfully avoided, but they do make shots....errr anyway. It seems that every time the Legion had a reboot I tried it out and couldn't get into it. Because Dan and Nick told me Waid's Legion was good I tried it out and ended up enjoying it. Went back and read the Legionnaires and some of Paul Levitz' run in the 80's. I guess what I'm trying to say is; you don't really have to know squat about the Legion to enjoy this book. You don't have to know anything about Final Crisis to get your money's worth either, because I have no fucking clue what it has to do with Final Crisis. At least Libra appeared in Rogues' Revenge and Revelations. But you know what? I'm not going to turn down a good story for that reason.

This is a follow-up to the Sinestro Corp and Legion story in Action Comics. All you need to know is Superboy/man Prime = bad and there is a nice recap of the Action Comics story in the court scene. The Time Trapper yanks Superboy/man Prime out the Countdown timeline and sends him to the future to destroy the Legion. He ends up going to a Superman museum in Smallville and is disgusted to find out a statue of him was never put up next to Superman's villains. He ends up destroying everything and heads for Takron-Galtos to free the Legion of Supervillains so they can help destroy the Legion. The United Planets wants to disband the Legion and kick out Earth from the federation (it's like watching Star Trek sometimes). R.J. Brande shows up to take up for the Legion, but he is shot by his old rival Leland McCauley. When a burning S is left in the remains of Tarkron- Galtos the Legion decide to stay together. There are missing Legionnaires or some who are out of commission, so the Legion looks for help elsewhere. When I mean elsewhere, I mean through fucking time and space. They yank Superman from our time and are willing to take the post Zero hour Legion and Mark Waid's Legion as recruits against this fight that is to come.

I loved this issue and coming from someone who really doesn't know that much about the Legion of Superheroes it says alot that the writer could still make things interesting. There are some things that I was a little lost on; for example when Superman says "I've met them both. We all did." I'm not sure who the we in that sentence is supposed to be. I have to say that Superman has more believe in the good in people than I do. Superboy Prime has destroyed a fucking planet and killed a handful of superheroes, but he still thinks that the solution is to redeem Prime. I guess that is why he has inspired people all the way into the 31st century.

What can I say about George Perez that I already haven't? The man is a penciling god! There is a reason why they hire someone of his caliber to draw a book with so many characters. His facial expressions are some of the best. I really got the sense of despair when the Legion where looking elsewhere for help. A great start to what I'm sure is going to be an epic battle and I can't wait for the outcome. A

Dororo vols. 2 & 3
Story & Art: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Dawn T. Laabs
Publisher: Vertical

It’s really hard to read a book by Osamu Tezuka knowing you are going to be reviewing it. It’s hard because how do you review the guy that set the standard for manga, hell not only manga but comics in general. I know Omar reviewed the first volume and loved it, but when he passed these down to me I just didn’t know what to critique. Dororo is a manga about a man named Hyakkimaru who was robbed of 48 of his body parts by the devil. Not your usual happy starting point from the man that brought you Astro Boy, Leo the Lion, and Unico. Every time that Hyakkimaru kills a demon one of his body parts grows back. Along with the boy thief named Dororo they roam the land in search of demons. There were some touching moments in volume two when Hyakkimaru is reunited with his parents and brother, of course things weren’t all Full House by then end when he killed his brother. There was a great fight scene with the legendary nine tailed fox and a great new ghoul with baby spirits that united to form him. The thing that I started noticing when reading volume two was that the stories were starting to get repetitive. It’s quite amazing to see Dororo get out of every deadly situation. I swear the kid must have powers too, because he is always getting out in the nick of time. As it turns out Dororo was a girl the entire time and Hyakkimaru figured it out when he got his eyes back. The series ends with the two “bros” parting ways; Hyakkimaru on his was to find more demons and Dororo fighting along the farmers. It was really weird to have a book just end there, but that’s all Tezuka ever wrote of the series. The series feels incomplete and that really saddens me because it was so entertaining. Some great panel layouts with awesome fighting sequences, I can’t believe this book was written and drawn in the 60’s. It was still a fun title to read with enough of a closure to keep most satisfied, but some wanting more. B+

Jade of Bango vol.1
Story: Ae-Ju Yim
Art: Jin-Ju Yim
Translation: Grace Min & Joyce Lee
Adaptation: Andrew Wolfman & Anthony Andera
Publisher: Tokyopop

Cute little school girl in the front cover with colorful candy and weird sperm with faces chasing her (I guess those are supposed to be ghosts); count me in. Wait, this is a manhwa not one of those countless magical girl saves the world manga. Surely it has to have some kind of twist right? Well as I mentioned in the previous sentence this is a story about a magical girl of sorts with the power to destroy the world. Lin Seonu is a high school student who lives with her dad (her mom got killed by a monster, but we’ll get to that in a minute). On her sixteenth birthday she learns that she can talk to ghosts and when she is attacked by a Spider-woman, not the sexy kind either, she learns that she is the Saint of Jade of Bango. Now all kinds of monsters want her power and the only man that can stop them is her husband/guardian In Mu. And the chick is only sixteen!! So, magical girl with the power to destroy the world has a crush on her husband to be, but he is very emotionally distant and has the charm of a wood block. I do believe this is the most manga inspired manhwa book I have ever read. It borrows not only the stereotypical story, but the artwork is definitely manga inspired. That is one thing that I did love about the book though; the wonderful and colorful characters. Sure it’s black and white, but with character designs that look to come right out of a videogame it really does stand out. Unfortunately it doesn’t save the lackluster of a story. But hey, I’m willing to give the book another shot come volume 2, just for the artwork. C

Jyu-Oh Sei vol.1
Story & Art: Natsumi Itsuki
Translation: Yuya Otake
Adaptation: Clint Bickham
Publisher: Tokyopop

Don’t let that cover fool you like it fooled me. I really thought I was going to be reading a shojo story about love and lust. Instead I got something I have been waiting a long time for. A very long time ago in not such a galaxy far far away, I read a book called They Were 11 and it was a perfect mix of sci-fi and shojo manga. I have been waiting for something like that and while there have been some great attempts none have really come that close. Jyu-Oh-Sei is a story about identical twins Thor and Rai living on the space colony Juno in the year 2436. Thor has dreams of being a pilot and Rai just wants to be a scientist, but they are the sons of one of the leaders of the Earth colonized system and are expected to take a role much like their father. When their parents are murdered they are kidnapped and taken to the Prison Planet Kimaera. Here they must survive not only against the criminals on the planet, but the creatures that reside on the surface. Thor and Rai become separated and Thor teams up with Tiz, one of the few women on the planet. Thor later learns that Rai had fallen to his death and swears to become the Beast King, who is the only person allowed to leave the planet. I was hooked from beginning to end and lost some sleep staying up finishing the first volume. This is a very convincing world that Itsuki has created and I really feel for Thor and hope he makes it out alive and I still have hope for Rai. It is 350 + pages of non-stop action and adventure that will capture the hearts of all its audience. Not since They Were 11 have I read something in this genre that moved me as much. A

Pumpkin Scissors vol.3
Story & Art: Ryotaro Iwanaga
Translation: Ikoi Hiroe
Publisher: Del Rey

A few months back Omar told me to read a book called Pineapple Army. Every time I read Pumpkin Scissors I think of that and Fruits Basket. When I think that those names are weird and have nothing to do with the book I always think of Yellow Submarine, Clockwork Orange, and Naked Lunch. The word Pumpkin Scissors in this case describes a small group of individuals within the army (Section III) that work to keep the peace and rebuild after the Great War that ended three years ago. I am one of the few people that didn’t like the first book. I wasn’t impressed and thought it was much like Full Metal Panic or a bunch of anime I had seen before. Things really started looking up at the beginning of volume two when Section III were inspecting the captured tank, but then the action came back and it was rather dull. The chapters didn’t seem to fit in continuity and this is something I am used to seeing in American comics not manga. Enter: Volume three. Instead of saving the Empire it seems they have to try and save Alice from an execution. After being deployed to the waterworks headquarters it was an all out war between the Pumpkin Scissors and Claymore One. The art style remains the same; clean and clear as presented in the previous two volumes. It doesn’t stand out as being original, but it Iwanaga manages to tell a solid story. While the first two volumes did very little for me in this series, I will admit that I am now hooked on the story and anxiously await the fourth volume. B

Shiki Tsukai vol. 3
Story: To-Ru Zekuu
Art: Yuna Takanagi
Translation: Mayumi Kobayashi
Publisher: Del Rey

I’m not sure if it’s taken a while for volume three of this series to come out or maybe I have just read too much manga in between volumes two and three. I had to go back and reread volumes one and two just to make sure I was caught up with this series. I’m really glad I did because so much happened in volume two. To recap: Akira is a normal kid until one day he is told he is meant for greater things by young girl named Koyomi. Along with Koyomi (a Shiki Tsukai) he learns that he can control the seasons. Akira is the destined Shinra, but he still has not awakened his true potential to control the forces of nature. Now the clans of Fall and Summer want to destroy humanity for all they have done to the Earth and they want Akira to help them do it. Finally we get to see more in depth explanations about the Shiki Tsukai and the forward speaking of the different months and seasons really clear things up. Koyomi jumps into action to help Akira against Nanayo. But it seems that Koyomi is just there to provide fan service and her character hasn’t developed much. The action sequences are still clearly drawn. The characters are easy to distinguish and backgrounds are sufficiently detailed and utilized to create the setting for each scene. Del Rey does a superb job of including extras in this manga. There are character profiles, character design sketches, a calendar, translation notes, and ability charts. The action has finally picked up in this volume, but I really wish they would move along with the story and quit introducing more villains of the week. B

Too Long
Story & Art: Hee Jung Park
Translation: Woo Sok Park
Adaptation: Jamie S. Rich
Publisher: Tokyopop

Before you make a gratuitous sex joke about the title; save some time. I’ve already made them all up in my head. It has been a very busy year for Ms. Park, Tokyopop released Fever in March, Hotel Africa in April, Martin and John July, and this August they released Too Long. Some of these chapters premiered in Tokyopop’s website and their MySpace profile. Too Long is a collection of ten short stories by Park and range anywhere from sadness, love, longing, and just plain bizarre. By far the best example of Park’s wonderful storytelling techniques in my opinion is Eoheulli. It is a beautiful story about childhood loss and the dreams that one has a child. When Yeongju’s younger brother needs a bone marrow transplant she has only one place to go; To the birth mother whom she treated like an older sister in her childhood. This story was completely moving and really touched me. Park’s childhood pictures were completely magnificent and even the usual problem I have with her art style wasn’t found in this book. She really has a knack for stories of anger, depression, and alienation. If you’ve read my past reviews you know that I adore Park’s style. She has a great understanding of sequential art with some sophisticated stories. Its one stand alone volume and I highly recommend it. A

Pic of the week Triple-header...

Before the Robot Supermen were involved in all that killing Donna Troy business, they were basically just marital aids.

Haha, I don't know why, but I imagine Robin's voice here being along the line of Mickey Mouse's and Batman's voice being Charlton Heston-esque....like Soylent Green Is People-Chuck.

Midweek Manga Reviews: It's Friday!

Dr. Slump vol. 15
Story & Art: Akira Toriyama
Translation: Alexander O. Smith
Publisher: Viz

I always wondered if his editors at the time had made Toriyama keep going with this series if it would have turned into something like Dragon Ball Z. I can see it now: Dr Slump Zeta!!! It’s a good thing that his editors weren’t that pushy back then. There is a new kid in the Norimaki household and his name is Turbo! If you were expecting a normal baby without powers, well you are reading the wrong manga! After being ran over by a spaceship and brought back to life Turbo develops telekinetic powers and that makes changing diapers and feeding all the more fun for the parents. Out of all the volumes of Dr. Slump I have read this one for some reason reminded me about the good ole X-men days, when they were more of a family and had baseball games. Kind of weird comparing the two comics together. Dr. Slump is a timeless classic, and it is Akira Toriyama's original big hit. Fans of the comedy found in his original Dragonball series, before the Z will absolutely love the slapstick presented in Dr. Slump. Even in the original Dragonball manga, they paid a visit to Penguin village where the Norimaki kids make a cameo. Dr. Slump is basically a funny book with slapstick, sexual, and cartoon humor. The book is never taken seriously, but don’t we already have enough serious comics out there? Take my word for it; you'll love this book! If you enjoy a good laugh, don't hesitate to check this out and you might get addicted like the rest of us. A

Guardian Hearts Vol. 1
Story & Art: Sae Amatsu
Translation: Monica Seya Chin
Adaptation: Erin M. Blakemore
Publisher: Tokyopop

At first glance at the cover, I could have sworn I have played a fighting game with these characters in it. Hina a Guardian Heart from the Planet of Light accidently shows her true identity one day to a boy named Kazuya. Actually it’s Kasuya’s own luck that has everyone revealing their identity to him moments after meeting him. For some reason this forces all these girls to live with him and his mother. I’m still not sure if this is supposed to be an accident or intentional. By the end of the 7th chapter there are five girls living in his house and for some reason keeping their abilities a secret from each other. Kazuya is a dull character, who never takes advantage of the harem situation in his house. Sure we’ve seen this story countless of times, but for once I would like the lead male character to do something besides shy away from all the girls who want him. You figured with five female characters they would all be a little different, but in the end they are all basically the same; insane, clumsy, and stupid. That is not even my main quibble with the manga; what really bothers me is the amount of fan service I got in this manga. Good Lord I never thought I would complain about something like that. The only things I enjoyed about this manga was the cat, the clean artwork, and some of the humor in the story, but unfortunately the amount of fan service, lack of plot, and hyper-rushed chapters really took all the enjoyment out of it for me. D+

Kage Tora vols. 9 & 10
Story & Art: Akira Segami
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Adaptation: Nunzio de Fillippis & Christina Weir
Publisher: Del Rey

From my days of playing Virtua Fighter I knew that Kage was shadow and from watching Tora! Tora! Tora! I knew that Tora meant tiger or To “indicated the attack was made” and Ra “success”. Didn’t think I could ever teach you anything huh? Well Shadow Tiger is about a ninja named Kagetora, whose job is to teach the arts of self-defense and combat to the heir of a renowned family of skilled martial artists. This would be Yuki Toudou, who has amazing martial arts skills when she is under the influence of alcohol, I can totally relate. Kagetora is in love with her, but since a ninja is forbidden to fall in love with his master, he struggles to hold back his feelings and is just now beginning to let those feelings out. To complicate things is Issei Kujou, a big and weak student of Kagetora, who also happens to have strong feelings for Yuki. However, he knows that Yuki cares for Kagetora and is pissed when Kagetora shows that he can’t share his feelings for her. My main concern is that in ten volumes Yuki really hasn’t become stronger and hasn’t evolved past her total flake self; this is why the series has a hard time keeping my attention. But, I did think something was going to happen in the tenth volume, but maybe Segami is waiting for the final chapter for that revelation. I have to say that the teenage dialogue is what really really keeps me reading this book. That is all thanks to Fillippis and Weir of New X-men fame. The title remains a mindless shonen fun book for those who like romantic comedy series with a mix of action thrown in. B-

Kikaider 02 vols. 3 & 4

Story: Shotaro Ishinomori
Art: Meimu
Translation: Jonathan Tarbox
Publisher: CMX

For those of you unfamiliar with Kikaider, he is practically a Japanese superhero/android that has appeared in anime, manga, and live action TV series over the years. Think of Mask Rider (Kamen Rider), Power Rangers, Evangelion, Guyver, and Astro Boy. Actually, the animation and the manga style due pay lots of tribute to the Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy and Jetter Mars. The plot of the series is very simplistic. Jiro is an android created by Mitsuko’s father Dr. Komyoji (who becomes nuts due to his work on artificial intelligence), but unlike the other robots the professor created, Jiro has a Gemini Circuit, which gives him human characteristics such as fear, compassion, and a sense of right and wrong. So you can tell that Jiro is almost human, but not quite (yeah, like the crappy Disney Chanel movies). After confronting both of Mitsuko’s brothers sharing two brains and one android body, Jiro can’t switch back into battle mode. Of course the pressure is on when the deadly robots created by Futen show up. While this series does have plenty of ass-kicking moments, it really lacked character interaction and development. Well, look no further than volumes three and four for that. This series is filled with heart-pounding action that never quits, as well as a touching plot that moves the main plot along smoothly. The character designs seem a little off at times; from misshapen foreheads or uneven eyes to obscure figure portrayals. With the exception of the nicely detailed Jiro, the robotic designs are pretty bland and at times don’t really look that threatening. Action sequences are a little cluttered with a few panels that were hard to distinguish what was going on, but the huge splash pages really shove the action in your face. I recommend this to fans of Witchblade, Darkness, X-23, Avengers and Justice League (Yes, I mention Avengers and JLA because of The Vision and Red Tornado) trying to find a manga to get into. B

The Mysterians vol.1
Created By: Chuck Russell & Michael Uslan
Script: Jay Antani
Art: Matt Hentschel
Publisher: Tokyopop

There are two things you must know before reading this review. 1) I have been a fan of Ishiro Honda since I was a child and I first saw Godzilla. As a teenager I would try to find bootleg copies of his other space stuff. When I was 15 I came across a movie called The Mysterians. To my surprise when I found out that Tokyopop was publishing this book I was ecstatic. 2) I am not the biggest fan of OEL manga. If you’ve read my past reviews you can tell how much I don’t enjoy most of those titles. So…onto the review. Aliens have infiltrated the Earth and the last surviving member of an underground resistance named Vox has summoned five extraordinary kids and has made them the last line of defense for mankind. Logan Gilroy, Tony Valdez, Leele Xing, and twins Jenna and Jamie McCloud have nothing in common, but are united as a group of teenagers ready to risk it all for the sake of humanity. The movie felt like a mix match of different books, comics, and movies and put together in one great package. It’s like Teen Titans meets They Live and throw in Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a dash of X-men and even some Nightmare on Elm Street and damn was this book fun. To be precise I meant Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors. That’s right the greatest Nightmare on Elm Street movie in my opinion. Don’t let that cover fool you because the art is truly stupendous. From character designs and over the top violence to the top notch sequential art from panel to panel, Hentschel had it all. The only bad thing I can say about the book is the sometimes stereotypical dialogue, but I think I can let that one slide. Sure the plot sounds like Captain Planet or Lensman, but the book was so much fun I can’t wait for the second volume. A

Testarotho vol. 2
Story & Art: Sanbei Kei
Translation: Akira Tsubasa
Adaptation: Jake Forbes
Publisher: CMX

For some reason I thought of Black Jack when I saw the cover to volume 2. But Testarotho is a little more twisted than Blackjack. Well at least in the we all believe in the same God, but die anyway attitude. Rotho Capria has graduated from her sheltered life in the Nunnery and is about to join the Elysia Unification Council. Unfortunately for her, the outside world was not what she thought. Outside of the gates where she felt secured is a world that is a divided land, one with differing cultures and religions who are all trying to achieve power. While the common people are suffering and are being oppressed on both sides. Of course the main oppressors are the Arsenal's Inquisitors, who are referred to as Testarotho. While the first volume focused on Elysia; the second volume moves the focus of the story to another central character, Leonedus. He is dealing with the struggles of trying to find his way in a world filled with turmoil and conspiring enemies as well as allies. Surely he can’t do this alone, so he always takes his huge gun with him everywhere he goes. There are some nice flashback moments that help explain Leo’s angsty attitude. It also unveils some of the conspiracies going on. Not as much gritty action as the first volume, but I’m sure the next two volumes will have plenty to make up for this one. B+

Final Crisis: Revalations # 1 Review

Author: Greg Rucka
Penciller: Philip Tan
Inkers: Jonathan Clapion & Jeff De Los Santos
Colors: Ian Hannin

About a month ago I borrowed Batman Gotham Knight from Spider-ben right before we went to see the Dark Knight. As I was watching the segment with Crispus Allen I started thinking to myself...you know I really miss those Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka Gotham Central comics and I where the hell is Crispus now? He was such a great detective; why isn't anybody using him. Ohh Wait...I totally forgot he became the new Spectre, so there went my wishful thinking about another Detective Crispus Allen story.

The Spectre is sent to take Dr. Light out for committing murders and rape (damn, the editors really loved that Identity Crisis take on poor Artie). It seems like Doc Light was about to get it on with three chicks dressed up as Donna Troy, Raven, and Starfire, hey nothing wrong with a little role-playing...well unless it's against their wills. The Spectre literally incinerates Dr. Light, but his power proves to be useless on Libra. Rene Montoya does what she does best as the Question, digging into some new mystery. A mystery that left me a little confused. As it turns out, the Spectre's next target is the new Question.

Sure it wasn't Gotham Central, but at moments it really read like an issue of that series. When Crispus goes and visits the site of the son that he was forced to take, that scene left me speechless with rage and pity. He is having a hard time quenching his thirst for justice and vengeance and the two seem to be crossing paths. Damn, when Doctor Light fries, he really fries. I guess that's what happens when Brad Meltzer makes a crappy c-list villain into a rapist and child killer. He turns into a giant candle....that really sucks balls. All this was brought to you by the talented Mr. Tan. Philip Tan has come a long way from his days on Spawn and Uncanny X-men. His pencils have really cleaned up and his sequential art really flows so much smoother now. It's really detailed and clear that makes his panels come to life. It was a great read that makes me want to know more now than ever; who is the man behind Libra's mask or is he really just the universe. A

Episode 111 - If Uncanny X-Men was a dollar, kids would stop smoking weed

This week: Final Crisis 3, Trinity, Batman RIP, Secret Invasion, Buffy and the horrendous pricing of comics today.

Also, we have a new voicemail number! Call us at 859-559-4591 and leave us a message, so we can play it on the air. We'll make you famous!

Episode 111 - If Uncanny X-Men was a dollar, kids would stop smoking weed

Secret Invasion: X-men # 1 Review

Author: Mike Carey
Art: Cary Nord
Colors: Dave McCaig
Cover: Terry Dodson

Because no one demanded it! The X-men jump into the Marvel summer crossover in their own mini-series. Okay, maybe a handful of people demanded this book, because they figured spending a week's salary all the other Secret Invasion Tie-ins wasn't enough. But not only that, but it's a Manifest Destiny Tie-in too. Are you fucking kidding me Omar? Two tie-ins for the price of one comic? I shit you not. But wait....there is a catch: no Wolverine! Not even the one on the cover.

So what exactly do we have happen in this book? Well more ass-kicking Skrull fights that's what! The Skrulls forgot to check their current events and to check the Colbert report to see Joe Quesada talk about the move the X-men made to San Francisco. So in the middle of an invasion on San Francisco the X-men interrupt and a fight breaks out. No X-men is revealed to be a Skrull and Nightcrawler talks to a purple ball.

The X-men don't take any crap from anybody and instead of getting something out of this book; we really just get Cyclops acting like the general he's been portrayed as in recent issues of X-men. Nord is really the saving grace of this comic. The art by Nord is completely gorgeous when it comes to figures and proportions, but his lack of backgrounds makes me wish on his simpler days on Daredevil. I'm not a fan of the broad strokes the colorist takes with each character. I get enough of that Quake-look from Cable. It's a simple good guy vs. bad guy book that does nothing to add to the Secret Invasion story or X-men story. I have no fucking clue what it has to do with Manifest Destiny and why a book like this is even necessary. D+