Is it just a clever title? You decide!
Air 1
Secret Invasion 5
Robin 177
Batman 679
Legion of 3 Worlds
Atomic Robo - Dogs of War 1
Booster Gold 11
Teen Titans 61
Green Lantern Corps 27
Punisher 61
Secret Invasion - Inhumans 1
The Helm 2
Walking Dead 51
BPRD The Warning 2
Welcome to Hoxford 1
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+
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
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+.
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
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.
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+
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
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
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+
Author: Sean Mckeever
Artist: Mike Mayhew
Letterer: Nate Piekos
It's been a while since I've done a comic review, but you know what; I'm in the zone today. I really thought this series of books were cancelled a few months back. When Mckeever went to DC I really didn't think this book would ever see the day. But I really didn't care either way; I have Bizarre Adventures 27 and a huge run of Uncanny that goes back to 94, but you know what not everyone does.
The story is a basic retelling of Jean Grey's origin. That's right: The original Marvel Girl and her early days coping with her powers and the loss of her friend Annie Richards. This is what triggers her mutant powers when her best friend is hit by a car As her friend lies dying, Jean instinctively links to her mind and senses what Annie feels as she dies. Originally this trauma leaves her in a coma, but in the retelling it just leaves her in a state of shock that only Professor Charles Xavier can get her out of. Eventually Charles invites her to join the X-men and that's the end of that.
Pretty much nothing new happens in the retelling of Jean's story. To be honest it was perfectly fine to begin with and if you didn't read all those past issues with flashbacks this would be a great way to get to know Jean. Ahh if only Marvel would bring Jean back from the dead and Mckeever would go back to Marvel and write a Jean Loves Scott. The artwork by Mayhew is completely gorgeous. Unfortunately I have read Jean's story over a dozen times in the years I have been collecting comics and the artwork alone wouldn't sell me on this book. The book is not a necessary read for old X-men fans, but new fans of the series should not pass up on this. B
We start this episode with a discussion of current toys, including Transformers Animated and Universe, DC Unlimited, Bandai Dragonball Z and GI Joe. Then, what starts as a discussion of Green Lantern 33 devolves into us basically deciding which flavor of crazy old comic creators are/would be if they weren't gone.
Deluxe Jungle Master Megazord
As you know by now, I’m a huge fan of giant robots. I have Voltron and Robotech to thank for that. The Gorilla WALKS!!! I say again the Gorilla walks in Zord mode. That should be all I have to say in this review in order to get you to buy this figure. There are two other Zords that combine with the Gorilla, they are the Penguin and Antelope Zords and together they form the Jungle Master Megazord. Combining the three figures is fairly simple. In Megazord mode he stands a foot tall and this makes him just an inch taller than the Jungle Pride. As I mentioned earlier on my review that the Gorilla walks on batteries, but this action also makes his torso spin to mimic the attack from the Jungle Fury show. The articulation is very limited when the figures are put together, but they work great when they stand alone.
At first glance at the Megazord, I really didn’t think I would dig it, but I was proven wrong. I actually think this is a better looking figure than all the other figures released in this set. He looks huge and buffed and looks like a powerhouse compared to other Megazords. It really is an excellent figure and the only gripe I have is its limited joint articulation, which is hard to pull off on a figure this size anyway. As always, these giant robots come pre-painted and inside of a big window box. There are pictures of the megazord everywhere on the box as well as its capabilities and its different mode. Bandai still knows how to show their fans love!!! A
Transforming Megazords:
The Transforming line is new this year. I’m not sure if Bandai is trying to have a line against the Transformers, but don’t let the name misguide you, these are still Power Ranger Megazords; just not the deluxe treatment that we are used to. The first wave includes the Beast Master Megazord, Jungle Pride Megazord, and the Roar Max Megazord. They are made of cheaper and lighter plastic and are at a $20 price range. Power Ranger figures can ride on some of the Zords and can even use some Zords as weapons. These are on a smaller scale then what we are used to, but they look great. The boxes are decorated with shots from the show and the figures come pre-painted. I did notice that the lesser quality plastic does make the shaving on the joint and smaller pieces more noticeable.
The Transforming Beast Master consists of five Zords that combine into one Megazord. The five Zords are: Elephant, Shark, Bat, White Puma, and Black Leapord Zords. It stands at 11 inches tall and looks great with the rest of the Deluxe Megazords. There is a compartment that you can open on the chest of the Megazord to store a figure inside. The only thing is that This Megazord is hollow and you almost have to have a figure inside of it in order for the legs to look filled. The Transforming Jungle Pride combines with the Transforming Roar Max and only with the Transforming Jungle Pride, not the deluxe (Trust me I tried and tried). The Jungle Pride is about an inch smaller than the deluxe, but everything else is basically the same. Of course there are no electronics to make him spin and he really looks amazing when combined with the Roar Max. Bandai has designed new Zords that are simplistic in style, but still manage to look great and are durable when the kids play with them. Hey it’s cheaper than paying for the $40.00 Megazord, they can leave that to the collectors. B
Cowa!
Story & Art: Akira Toriyama
Translation: Alexander O. Smith
Publisher: Viz
Being a Toriyama fan has been really hard over the years. After reading everything he has done and collecting the Japanese tonkabon, it gets really hard to wait for the next Toriyama project. I remember seeing Cowa pictures a few years back, but I’m really glad Viz went on and brought the manga over to the States. This particular work contains all of the things people expect of Toriyama; action, gags, and Toriyama's signature drawing style with a kiddie twist. There are also elements in this book I have never seen in a Toriyama book; a real kiddie simple story, that is just that a simple story. Paifu is a half vampire half werekoala(that’s right his dad was a full blooded werekoala). He is best friends with Jose Rodriguez, the ghost and the two of them seem to get into trouble all the time, whether it’s stealing watermelons or invading Mr. Maruyama’s privacy…even though he is an accidental murderer. When the entire town gets sick it is up to Paifu, Jose, Mr. Maruyama, and Paifu’s so-called rival Arpon to go on a journey and save the town. It’s a book which is supposed to be fun and it achieves that goal. Sure it’s supposed to be a kid’s book, but it’s got elements that adults can enjoy too. I only hope that Toriyama visits this world again. A
Dominion vol.1
Story & Art: Shirow Masamune
Translation: Dana Lewis
Adaptation: Frederik L. Schodt & Toren Smith
Publisher: Dark Horse
If you haven’t heard of Masamune Shirow, well he did a little manga called Ghost in the Shell as well as Appleseed, Orion, Black Magic, and Intron Depot. So even if you haven’t heard of him, I’m sure you have heard of his work. I remember Tank Police was one of the first subtitled anime I watched (that wasn’t bootlegged) back in 1991. I was really excited all those years ago when Dark Horse released the manga and I haven’t read this story in over 15 years. This is a story about the future in which mankind is forced to wear oxygen masks outside, they live in bio-created cities, and crime levels so high that the police use tanks! The main character is a tank-loving Leona Ozaki, a police mini-tank commander, who seems to be fighting a one-woman war against crime (well one woman if you don’t count her little tank; Bonaparte). Most of the time she is dealing with Buaku, a master criminal, and his two catgirl thugs, the Puma sisters (I know you recognize these two. They also make an appearance in Ghost in the Shell). The fact is that Buaku has more than just gold coins and cash on his mind. In fact, the future of planet Earth and the human race hangs in the balance when the group of thugs kidnaps Green Peace. This is truly one of the best manga books that I read back then and still shines to this day. The story is really fun and since it is not as complex as Appleseed or Ghost in the Shell it's easy to follow. Don’t get me wrong it’s technical at times, but not on par with his other works. I highly recommend introducing yourself to the Domion world. A+
Fairy Tail vol. 3
Story & Art: Hiro Mashima
Translation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed volumes 1 and 2 of this series. I’m not a big wizard fan (let the Harry Potter fan-boy emails come) and I really got bored with Rave Master, because Mashima never stepped outside of his formula and the story was going nowhere. But, this was something that brought me back to my child hood and I really got that sense of adventure when Natsu, Lucy, and Happy took off for Fairy Tail. Now the Dark Guild Eisenwald are going head to head with Fairy Tail for the Lullaby (no, not what you think, but a magic weapon). Eirgor, leads the mission to broadcast the Lullaby all over town. Titiana Erza sends fire mage Natsu and ice mage Gray after Eirgor himself. All hell breaks loose and there was plenty of action in this issue to make up for the lackluster second volume. Mashima manages to keep the momentum going, but with villains, now that the villains are finally proving to be more than a thorn on the side to our heroes. With one hell of a cliffhanger he has really up the ante in this volume and it just keeps me wanting to come back for more. As always there are wonderful translation notes in the end, but this volume also has a Happy the cat mini story. The only bad thing or good thing, depending on how you look at it, is that I can see this series going on forever, much like One Piece. This book is hilarious and gives nudges in the ways of relationships, but leaves enough room for the reader to wonder about who might end up with who. It’s got a perfect mix of action and magic that any manga reader will appreciate. A
Gantz vol.1
Story & Art: Hiroya Oku
Translation: Mathew Johnson
Publisher: Dark Horse
I didn’t know what to expect from Gantz, because I have heard so many people compare it to Battle Royale. To me Battle Royale is still one of the most disturbing pieces of work I have ever laid my eyes on, granted I have seen plenty of weird things in my life. Gantz is the story of Kei Kurono(who is kind of a dickhead) and his semi-friend Masaru Kato who die while saving a drunk from an oncoming subway train. Instead of dying they are transported into a room full of other people who have just died as well. It seems to be an empty apartment with a view of Tokyo Tower, well empty except for the black sphere that people keep coming out of. This sphere informs everyone in the room that their former lives have ended and their new lives belong to it. Inside the sphere is an old man that seems to be on life support and I don’t know what role he plays in all this. They are given a target and weapons to take down this alien, pretending to be human. I have to say that I was a nervous wreck in that first scene with the train. I had no idea Kei and Masaru’s death was going to be so graphic and speaking of graphic, every time some gets transported they appear and reappear in slices. So you get to see the inside of the human cavity. Other than your basic blowing of the brains and nudity, I really didn’t see anything too graphic. But I enjoyed the hell out of the story and as confusing as it is now, I can’t wait to see what happens to this team of dead warriors. By far one of the best manga I have read this year. A+
Samurai Champloo Complete
Creator: Manglobe
Story & Art: Masaru Gotsubo
Translation: Louie Kawamoto
Adaptation: Christine Boylan
Publisher: Tokyopop
Cowboy Bebop is still one of my top 10 favorite anime of all time. I’m sure if you ask many Otaku, they would tell you the same thing. I remember how disappointed I was when I read the manga and how unlike the show it was. Samurai Champloo, much like Bebop, was a visual feast to watch on the screen; so yeah I was worried when I opened this book up. The manga starts out almost identically to the anime. Fuu (the 15 year old waitress) is still searching for her Sunflower Samurai, and Mugen (the mercenary) and Jin (the samurai) are at each other’s throats. Beyond that, though, the manga goes in an entirely different direction. Instead of getting captured by the feudal lords, and instead of doing a great deal of traveling and battling, most of what happens is slapstick comedy that takes place in cities and villages, and we never quite know the progress of the heroes because they rarely mention where they are at. This kind of gets confusing at times and made me put the down the book more than once. But as different as the manga was, you still have to be fair by taken the two as different forms of the same medium. What makes the manga good, is the fact that it really dives into the characters and it gives the readers psychoanalysis of their personalities in just a page. The manga has the ability to explain certain cultural references that readers unfamiliar with Japanese society might find confusing as well as an explanation of the word champloo for the reader that like everything spelled out for them. Gotsubo’s art style is very stark. He uses lots of shades and plays on black and white backgrounds. It’s a bit of a distraction at times, but you do get used to it. It’s not great by far, but it does get the job done. Fans of the show will love it and people who have never seen the show will enjoy this samurai story. B
School Rumble vols. 9 & 10
Story & Art: Jin Kobayashi
Translation: William Flanagan
Publisher: Del Rey
School Rumble is not Battle Royale if that’s what you are hoping for. I think that’s what I was hoping for when I first started reading the series. Instead I got a romantic comedy and a good one at that. School Rumble tells the comedic/love story of two high school students. The first student is Tenma Tsukamoto, a second-year student who is absolutely in love with a boy, Karasuma Ouji, who's about to transfer to a different school. Of course lots of things have happened in 10 volumes and after the madness that was the previous arc, we finally get to settle down in these volumes. Sure hilarious misunderstandings aren’t as fun as over the top shoot outs, but it still moves the story forward. And what’s a high school drama without a school festival? I think that is a prerequisite in 90% of manga that focus on high school life. Volume 10 brings us Yagami High School’s version of Sleeping Beauty. Of course there is a twist to this tale when Harima is the one that falls asleep and someone has to wake him up. This leads to a face-off between Eri and Yakumo on the stage and then the dance floor. There are a couple of extra stories that focus on a drag race and about Yakumo wanting to find a love of her own. I have to say that while Kobabayashi can deliver some great action scenes his character designs are still bland. The characters all look average, and the fact that this takes place at school most of the time doesn't help getting the characters confused. William Flanagan is one busy guy, I see him translate so much manga in one month, I have no idea how he does it. I bring this up, because translators do more work than they get credit for. They set the mood and tone of the narration and dialogue and that can either make or break the book. In this case however, I have always enjoyed Flanagan’s adaptations and this is no exception. B+
The Wallflower vols. 15 & 16
Story & Art: Tomoko Hayakawa
Translation: David Ury
Publisher: Del Rey
I really have no idea what draws me to this series so much. Sure it’s cute and it’s got a good morbid funny story, but it’s just not something I would normally read. While the story is still morbidly funny, it seems that the creator has finally hit a point where she really needs to start wrapping up the series. It seems she is really dragging out every possible plot point possible. Sunako always seem to have some sort of crisis that involves her being forced to dress up like a lady. Of course she rebels against dressing up and this leads to having people calling her ugly, only to then have her show her inner beauty and it all leads to her acting the way she was before. When Sunako is invited to a reunion party for her class, she runs into her old crush and instead of resolving past problems or coming to a conclusion the romance just goes away. It seems more and more that Chibi Sunako seems to take the center stage. There are some nice chapters that focus on Sunako’s skeletons in the closet that get some closure out of them and those stories were the saving grace of these two volumes. I totally loved the scene in Harajuku, because it reminded me of my trip to Tokyo and the crazy clothes kids were wearing. The reaction the boys have to White Day had me laughing. So yes, it’s not all bad, but I wish there was a light at the end of the tunnel. As always Del Rey does a phenomenal job with the manga extras that include translation notes, author notes, and a preview of the next volume in English. C+
Contributors: Look Below
Art Director/Editor: Kazu Kibuishi
Publisher: Villard
I have been anxiously awaiting this volume of Flight since I read volumes one through four back to back last year. There is a certain joy that I get out of Flight that I don’t get out of most of my graphic novels. If you’ve never heard of this series, think of it like a comic anthology featuring over 20 creators all with different art styles and storytelling methods. Each story is a stand-alone tale, with the exception of a couple that keep coming back. Even if many of these creators are not household names, it in no way diminishes their remarkable ability to tell a story, often with limited or no dialogue at all.
Since I can’t talk about every single story, the highlights of this book for me include Michel Cagne’s mandatory contribution of “The Broken Path” as we revisit the tiny little fox that is in a dangerous kingdom and finds friendship in the end. The Dragon by Reagan Lodge tells the story of Wyit, a small fox who is teamed up with the warrior Jin as a Dragon tank attacks a town. Funny enough he finds out that the mightiest weapon against this tank is a sweet yam. I fell in love with this story, mainly for the sketchy artwork and dark shadows, but I would seriously follow a monthly series focusing on Wyit and Sidna’s adventures. Phil Craven’s “N” makes me wish the guy would design a videogame for the DS with that kind of art style. Of course the book wouldn’t be complete without the guy that put it all together not doing a segment. Courier by Kazu Kibuishi is a futuristic take on the delivery services with a sweet little ending.
Many of the creators followed the flight theme in a loose way, taking it as any kind of journey. I guess the Beisbol story by Richard Pose is the one that stands out the most as not being really flight themed. It doesn’t really mean that they are bad stories in any way, because some of the stories that stand out to me are not flight themed. Such was the case with Sonny Liew’s Malinky Robot. Sure there is a scene with robots flying over the city, but the main centralized story is about Mr. Nabisco’s robot, who gets treated more like an appliance and has an identity problem. What I loved most about this story is the wonderful artwork. The colors are dull and the art is squiggly, but damn detailed and the characters really come alive. There are also simple and sweet stories such as Frank and Frank’s Seasons about a young boy, a bear, and the change that seasons have on us.
There aren’t enough words and truly I don’t think I have enough of a grasp of the language to do this series justice. Sure it’s not as thick as some of the previous volumes, but with over 350 full-color pages at $25 Flight volume 5 is still one hell of a deal. Trying to find a book for that someone you are trying to get into comics? Look no further. This book is the perfect example of what comics should be about. This anthology series has told some of the most emotionally moving, visually riveting, smile inducing, and dramatic stories I have had the pleasure of reading. The depth of diversity and insane power of creativity in these 360 pages is impressive even to a long time comic fan like me and I think you will find yourself sharing my views after you put this book down. A+
Is it just a clever title? You decide!
Air 1
Secret Invasion 5
Robin 177
Batman 679
Legion of 3 Worlds
Atomic Robo - Dogs of War 1
Booster Gold 11
Teen Titans 61
Green Lantern Corps 27
Punisher 61
Secret Invasion - Inhumans 1
The Helm 2
Walking Dead 51
BPRD The Warning 2
Welcome to Hoxford 1
Episode 112 - The Worst Comic Podcast Ever
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