Ok bit late picking this latest haul up due to Christmas related Shenanigans but it was worth waiting for happily with some excellent books coming in, including DC's first major event since Rebirth.
The list;
Justice League vs Suicide Squad #1
Aquaman #13
Nightwing #11
Superman #13
Justice League #11
Green Lanterns #13
Batman #13
Green Arrow #13
Trinity #4
He-Man/Thundercats #3
Uncanny X-Men#16
My pick this week obviously went to JvS #1 but it was very nearly Aquaman #13. JvS edges it for me because there was number of things it did well that I really liked, first off the art by Jason Fabok is just exceptional here, so so good. I love how it opens with the set up of all these high powered villains being sprung, this bit is really well executed. I am kind of annoyed that they spoiled the big reveal of it being Maxwell Lord in their preview but I am not that upset because its fricking Maxwell Lord and I love him as a villain! In fact I am in love with this whole team in particular Dr Polaris he just isn't used enough IMO and I loved Johnny Sorrow, have done ever since the JSA run by Johns, I just think he has a really cool look, talking of cool looks the real Lobo is back and thats awesome news. The build up to the confrontation of the 2 teams is nicely done too and it has left me looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.
4/5
Elsewhere in comics;
Aquaman #13 Just excellent stuff, I always look forward to this book, the story is excellent Abnett is killing it here. Arthur manages to convince the JL of his innocence they take his evidence to the US military who dont believe a word of it, I am guessing someone here is a N.E.M.O agent but we will see, hostilities continue and a N.E.M.O Sub is destroyed but it has been rigged so to the US it looks like its one of theirs.
Nightwing #11 This is ok, more of Dick settling into Bludhaven, and uncovering just how corrupt it is, I like the inclusion of an AA support group for reformed C level villains a nice touch.
Superman #13 Conclusion of the Frankenstein mini arc, still one of the most enjoyable books in the market
Justice League #11 this is the wrap up of the mini arc involving the super computer hacking program that sets the JL up against an AWESOME team of villains, see this is the arc this book should have started with to get people on board. Enjoyable but not loving on the art though it was really weak in this issue and I would like to see someone like Lee or Farbok on this book instead.
Green Lanterns #13 I continue to dig this book more each week, real improvement after a shaky start, we find more about the phantom lantern and Volthoom here and we have the obligatory cliff hange rending as the Phantom Lantern explodes.
Batman #13 The conclusion of the I am Suicide arc and not before time, this just hasn't worked for me, we learn that Batman has outmanoeuvred Bane and Catwoman is a plant, also we found out why he brought in the ventriloquist he seems to be immune to Psycho Pirate, the issue ends big though as Bane is left beaten and in his rage demands VENOM, oh yeah that's how I like my Bane drugged to the eye balls.
Green Arrow #13 The framing of Ollie continues, we get a better look at the right wing sleazy fly eating (yup) politician and the book ends with Ollie surrounded by thousands of angry football fans after he is framed for shooting their star player in the back.
Trinity #4 Ok this story hasnt worked for me, but it does give me what I wanted by the end of this issue. We go into Dianas dream sequence now where she is back on Themyscira I wasn't particularly bothered about this it was ok but nothing amazing. Then we get the big reveal at the end that Mongul is behind this, hell to the yeah! I assumed/hoped he would be involved due to the black mercys but you never know.
He-Man/Thundercats #3 Just so much fun, excellent over the top art and dialogue, whats not to like? I am having a blast reading this. Lion O and the Thundercats take Skelator down and take back the Sword of Greyskull only to try and return it to He-Man only to find he is dead!
Uncanny X-Men #16 IvX tie in, whilst Jean Grey and the Cuckoos keep Karnak in check Fantomex takes control of the super sentinel making plant, turning his back on the X-Men he decides he wants to use this for his own gain.
Wednesday 28 December 2016
Sunday 18 December 2016
Pick of the week 14/12/2016 Inhumans Vs X-Men #1
A good week loads to read, which means no food for my kids this week, there was some great action here, as well as a few disappointing issues, by and large though the quality was high.
The List;
Red Hood and the Outlaws # 5
Action Comics #969
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #10
The Flash #12
Superwoman #5
Inhumans vs X-Men #1
Detective Comics #946
New Super-Man #6
Suicide Squad #8
Deathsttroke #8
Supergirl #4
Wonder Woman #12
My pick in the end goes to Inhumans vs X-Men #1 personally speaking speaking a good X-Men book will trump most things, X-Men are the reason I got into comics in the first place. Although the X-Comics weren't the first books I owned or read but they were the first comics I truly LOVED and actively collected. This book works on a few levels the1st is that its a good ensemble piece with action and intrigue, another thing that makes this book is for everything the X-Men have gone through over the last 10 years there's something very satisfying about the way the story plays out seeing the X-Men get the upper hand over the Inhumans.
This issue sets up the mini series nicely with some of the slower set up pieces already covered in issue #0, it kicks off with Hank at Cyclops grave, this is a nice opening even if it does make me boil with rage that they actually pulled the trigger on Cyke easily the greatest X-Man of them all. Heres where we find out what Hanks big news is... the representatives of the remaining key mutant groups are all here, Emma Frost, Magneto, Young Beast, Storm, Forge, Old man Logan and Rogue, the bombshell is there is no cure, the Terrigen mists will eventually wipe out all mutant life on earth, the solution Hank proposes is to escape the planet and avoid conflict whilst saving the species this way. Needless to say this is not well received , Emma drops the news that they have been planning for 8 months as to how to take out the Inhumans. They hold a vote on what to do and Storm, Magneto, Young Beast and Logan all vote to attack and at least go down fighting, Forge is pro but abstains and Rogue is against it, rather oddly (though you could say that a lot about Hanks decisions these days) Hank goes to warn the Inhumans to be taken down by Storm. What comes next is a series of set pieces as the X-Men take the offensive against the Inhumans, in a well done scene using Dazzler Emma takes down Blackbolt Dazzler absorbs the power of his voice and sends it right back at him, Fantomex takes out Lockjaw and Jean Grey takes out Karnak but by far the most satisfying is Magneto taking out the Inhuman flagship after posing as Mutant refugee he is "rescued" he then literally tears the ship apart form the inside out after telling them "You don't save mutants I do!" I really liked that bit though loving Mags as I do I am a bit biased, the issue closes with a huge mutant strike team made up of pretty much all the X-teams approaching Attilan with Medusa and Johnny Storm waiting for them.
4/5
Elsewhere in comics;
The Good
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #10 This was so nearly my pick of the week, Hal is still in emerald space Abin Sur and great lanterns of the past are all there, at the same time summoned by Ganthet Kyle Rayner tries to rescue Hal, meanwhile John and the rest of the corp are still trapped by Braniac all great so far. Where this book lost me is with the last page reveal, that its not really Brainiac but some of his drones working for Larfleeze. Its ok but what I was really digging about this was that it was a story which didn't just involve another of the Lanterns corps. So its a good issue from a book I really dig but not quite PoTW.
Superwoman #5 I like this a lot more than I ever thought I would, I was expecting it to be Lois Lane from the solicitations but Lana has actually been fine, what has made it that much more enjoyable is top notch writing AND the inclusion of John Henry Irons and Bibbo! Fricking Bibbo I love his inclusion.
Wonder Woman #12 This was another book that was a close contender for PoTW. WW is a book that has finally clicked with me, its the year 1 story this week and its just a really good book which ends with the big bad being unveiled as Ares god of war, the art is fantastic here top stuff.
New Super-Man #6 This book is just so good, so much fun, I love Keenan as the Chinese superman and the Chinese Batman and Wonder Woman are excellent. This is the end of this arc and it sees tragedy as the super trio take down the Chinese freedom fighters only for Super-Mans father is killed (or is he) I really hope this book has legs as so far it has been excellent.
Red Hood and the Outlaws # 5 Good issue, I am enjoying what they have been doing with this book so far, I like Jasons relationship with Bizzarro and the choice of Black Mask as a villain, good stuff.
Action Comics #969 This continues to be a good book, I am intrigued to see where this arc goes, Luthors life is in peril as it is claimed he will go onto become Darkseids heir, and Superman can't let him die so he follows himoff world, I have no doubt shenanigans will ensue.
Detective Comics #946 This is the best book so far in this arc, which is not saying a massive deal as it hasn't done much for me, despite me like the premise of a team of villains being formed from people who have been collateral damage from various super hero throwdowns. The Bat family go on the offensive and take them all down one by one until the surprising swerve at the end with Spoiler siding with the 1st Victim.
The not so good
Suicide Squad #8 This was fine, its Jim Lee art but I just really do not care about any of these characters, Captain Boomerang is back and Hulk-Zod is put back in his box.
Deathstroke #8 - The best book so far in this run but I really just do not care about this book or any of the characters, I think I will be dropping this one.
The Flash #12 - This shade arc is done which is good, it started fine, but a combination of the different - inferior artists has not helped it, its just been a bit of a throaway mini story which is fine but its not been as interesting as it initially seemed and the art in this issue is just awful, I hated it, the best thing about this was Barry asking Iris out at the end, bring back Carmine Di Giandomenico immediately!
Supergirl #4 Meh I don't care, I don't know why I am buying this one, so I am going to stop.
The List;
Red Hood and the Outlaws # 5
Action Comics #969
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #10
The Flash #12
Superwoman #5
Inhumans vs X-Men #1
Detective Comics #946
New Super-Man #6
Suicide Squad #8
Deathsttroke #8
Supergirl #4
Wonder Woman #12
My pick in the end goes to Inhumans vs X-Men #1 personally speaking speaking a good X-Men book will trump most things, X-Men are the reason I got into comics in the first place. Although the X-Comics weren't the first books I owned or read but they were the first comics I truly LOVED and actively collected. This book works on a few levels the1st is that its a good ensemble piece with action and intrigue, another thing that makes this book is for everything the X-Men have gone through over the last 10 years there's something very satisfying about the way the story plays out seeing the X-Men get the upper hand over the Inhumans.
This issue sets up the mini series nicely with some of the slower set up pieces already covered in issue #0, it kicks off with Hank at Cyclops grave, this is a nice opening even if it does make me boil with rage that they actually pulled the trigger on Cyke easily the greatest X-Man of them all. Heres where we find out what Hanks big news is... the representatives of the remaining key mutant groups are all here, Emma Frost, Magneto, Young Beast, Storm, Forge, Old man Logan and Rogue, the bombshell is there is no cure, the Terrigen mists will eventually wipe out all mutant life on earth, the solution Hank proposes is to escape the planet and avoid conflict whilst saving the species this way. Needless to say this is not well received , Emma drops the news that they have been planning for 8 months as to how to take out the Inhumans. They hold a vote on what to do and Storm, Magneto, Young Beast and Logan all vote to attack and at least go down fighting, Forge is pro but abstains and Rogue is against it, rather oddly (though you could say that a lot about Hanks decisions these days) Hank goes to warn the Inhumans to be taken down by Storm. What comes next is a series of set pieces as the X-Men take the offensive against the Inhumans, in a well done scene using Dazzler Emma takes down Blackbolt Dazzler absorbs the power of his voice and sends it right back at him, Fantomex takes out Lockjaw and Jean Grey takes out Karnak but by far the most satisfying is Magneto taking out the Inhuman flagship after posing as Mutant refugee he is "rescued" he then literally tears the ship apart form the inside out after telling them "You don't save mutants I do!" I really liked that bit though loving Mags as I do I am a bit biased, the issue closes with a huge mutant strike team made up of pretty much all the X-teams approaching Attilan with Medusa and Johnny Storm waiting for them.
4/5
Elsewhere in comics;
The Good
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #10 This was so nearly my pick of the week, Hal is still in emerald space Abin Sur and great lanterns of the past are all there, at the same time summoned by Ganthet Kyle Rayner tries to rescue Hal, meanwhile John and the rest of the corp are still trapped by Braniac all great so far. Where this book lost me is with the last page reveal, that its not really Brainiac but some of his drones working for Larfleeze. Its ok but what I was really digging about this was that it was a story which didn't just involve another of the Lanterns corps. So its a good issue from a book I really dig but not quite PoTW.
Superwoman #5 I like this a lot more than I ever thought I would, I was expecting it to be Lois Lane from the solicitations but Lana has actually been fine, what has made it that much more enjoyable is top notch writing AND the inclusion of John Henry Irons and Bibbo! Fricking Bibbo I love his inclusion.
Wonder Woman #12 This was another book that was a close contender for PoTW. WW is a book that has finally clicked with me, its the year 1 story this week and its just a really good book which ends with the big bad being unveiled as Ares god of war, the art is fantastic here top stuff.
New Super-Man #6 This book is just so good, so much fun, I love Keenan as the Chinese superman and the Chinese Batman and Wonder Woman are excellent. This is the end of this arc and it sees tragedy as the super trio take down the Chinese freedom fighters only for Super-Mans father is killed (or is he) I really hope this book has legs as so far it has been excellent.
Red Hood and the Outlaws # 5 Good issue, I am enjoying what they have been doing with this book so far, I like Jasons relationship with Bizzarro and the choice of Black Mask as a villain, good stuff.
Action Comics #969 This continues to be a good book, I am intrigued to see where this arc goes, Luthors life is in peril as it is claimed he will go onto become Darkseids heir, and Superman can't let him die so he follows himoff world, I have no doubt shenanigans will ensue.
Detective Comics #946 This is the best book so far in this arc, which is not saying a massive deal as it hasn't done much for me, despite me like the premise of a team of villains being formed from people who have been collateral damage from various super hero throwdowns. The Bat family go on the offensive and take them all down one by one until the surprising swerve at the end with Spoiler siding with the 1st Victim.
The not so good
Suicide Squad #8 This was fine, its Jim Lee art but I just really do not care about any of these characters, Captain Boomerang is back and Hulk-Zod is put back in his box.
Deathstroke #8 - The best book so far in this run but I really just do not care about this book or any of the characters, I think I will be dropping this one.
The Flash #12 - This shade arc is done which is good, it started fine, but a combination of the different - inferior artists has not helped it, its just been a bit of a throaway mini story which is fine but its not been as interesting as it initially seemed and the art in this issue is just awful, I hated it, the best thing about this was Barry asking Iris out at the end, bring back Carmine Di Giandomenico immediately!
Supergirl #4 Meh I don't care, I don't know why I am buying this one, so I am going to stop.
Tuesday 13 December 2016
Pick of the Week 07/12/2016 Aquaman #12
This was a slightly light week on comics in terms of numbers, but in terms of quality it was an absolute delight, with all titles really having strong contenders for my ultra prestigious PoTW!
The List;
Aquaman #12
Superman #12
Batman #12
Nightwing #10
Justice League #10
Green Arrow #12
Green Lanterns #12
So whilst it was a tough week I have to go with Aquaman this week and not before time, Abnetts work on this book has been absolutely stellar and this title has been a revelation since Rebirth and its one of the titles I look forward to every week, and its just been a matter of time before it was PoTW. They continue the arc that began in the 1st issue, Black Manta is trying to destroy Arthur Curry, along the way he became the head of N.E.M.O and as we saw in the last issue he wants to destroy him by turning the world against him. Last issue was superb and it saw the JL rally around and visit a hurt Arthur after the Shaggy Man throw down, but at the close we saw N.E.M.O troops masquerading as Atlanteans attack the US. This issue continues straight way with this, the troops using stolen tech from Atlantis decimate multiple targets turning the US well and truly against Atlantis. What's great about this is the whilst its a fairly basic story its been built brilliantly over 12 issues and you really find yourself pulling for Arthur to clear his name, the injustice of how the world is treating him and buying into Mantas games really leaves you pulling for him and it is going to make the eventual comeuppance that Manta will surely receive all the more satisfying, I think Manta has been built up brilliant during this arc. The art is really strong here too and there were 2 scenes in particular that made me smile, a giant sea beast stolen by N.E.M.O eats a battle ship and then in a scene reminiscent of Mega shark vs Giant Octopus leaps into the air and eats a plane too! The issue closes with the US declaring war on Atlantis and the Justice League bursting in to take Arthur down... oh and did I mention there are US shark commandos!
4/5
Elsewhere in comics
Superman #12 Its no secret I have been loving this book, I think Tomasi has just been smashing it out of the park, and this is another really fun issue but Supes takes a backseat here to Frankenstein Agent of Shade! He's hunting an alien who happens to be in disguise as Lois boss at her 2nd job at the local paper, Superman gets involved and we get an excellent thrown down with some brilliant action shots, I find Mahnkes work a bit hit and miss, he nails every scene with Supes and F-Stein but I have to say I do not like the art for Lois Lane in this issue at all.
Batman #12 I still am not really getting into this story, and I love Bane and Batman it should have been an easy sell, that being said the art in this issue is just spectacular, Mikel Janins work is fan-bastard-tastic, I could not have been the only one who wanted Batman to fight the Sharks, maybe use some kind of repellent ;-). There an amazing spread of him scaling the tower, all in all he must take out 100 cronies here and it looks sensational, I really don't like the he became Batman rather than commit suicide. The last page with Bane looming over Batman with Catwoman on his arm is just wonderful.
Nightwing #10 Yes Dick is back in Bludhaven, loving that give him his own space and let him be a hero, nothing amazing here but an enjoyable issue.
Justice League #10 For my money this may have been the best issue of this book so far, I relaly enjoyed this a price on their heads the Justice League throwdown with a collection of Classic JL rogues including Giganta, Mammoth, Double Down, fricking Psimon and Plastique among others the issue closers with Amazo on the scene! Loved this, it was a lot of fun which a Justice League book should be, the art was fine, serviceable but it didn't grab me which is a shame.
Green Arrow #12 Otto Schmidt should just draw everything, I get really excited when I see him on the cover, I really hate the switching I would kill for this to be a monthly book with Schmidt on full time art duties! Good issue I like how the frame up comes in killing every one Green Arrow has interacted with, and there's also a few more shots taken at Trump with a corrupt politician who used to know Ollie featuring.
Green Lanterns #12 I am really starting to enjoy this book, I am digging the deeply flawed Phantom Lantern character, Eduardo Pansica does a fantastic job with the facial expressions he is making when switching between Lantern Corp powers, good stuff!
The List;
Aquaman #12
Superman #12
Batman #12
Nightwing #10
Justice League #10
Green Arrow #12
Green Lanterns #12
So whilst it was a tough week I have to go with Aquaman this week and not before time, Abnetts work on this book has been absolutely stellar and this title has been a revelation since Rebirth and its one of the titles I look forward to every week, and its just been a matter of time before it was PoTW. They continue the arc that began in the 1st issue, Black Manta is trying to destroy Arthur Curry, along the way he became the head of N.E.M.O and as we saw in the last issue he wants to destroy him by turning the world against him. Last issue was superb and it saw the JL rally around and visit a hurt Arthur after the Shaggy Man throw down, but at the close we saw N.E.M.O troops masquerading as Atlanteans attack the US. This issue continues straight way with this, the troops using stolen tech from Atlantis decimate multiple targets turning the US well and truly against Atlantis. What's great about this is the whilst its a fairly basic story its been built brilliantly over 12 issues and you really find yourself pulling for Arthur to clear his name, the injustice of how the world is treating him and buying into Mantas games really leaves you pulling for him and it is going to make the eventual comeuppance that Manta will surely receive all the more satisfying, I think Manta has been built up brilliant during this arc. The art is really strong here too and there were 2 scenes in particular that made me smile, a giant sea beast stolen by N.E.M.O eats a battle ship and then in a scene reminiscent of Mega shark vs Giant Octopus leaps into the air and eats a plane too! The issue closes with the US declaring war on Atlantis and the Justice League bursting in to take Arthur down... oh and did I mention there are US shark commandos!
4/5
Elsewhere in comics
Superman #12 Its no secret I have been loving this book, I think Tomasi has just been smashing it out of the park, and this is another really fun issue but Supes takes a backseat here to Frankenstein Agent of Shade! He's hunting an alien who happens to be in disguise as Lois boss at her 2nd job at the local paper, Superman gets involved and we get an excellent thrown down with some brilliant action shots, I find Mahnkes work a bit hit and miss, he nails every scene with Supes and F-Stein but I have to say I do not like the art for Lois Lane in this issue at all.
Batman #12 I still am not really getting into this story, and I love Bane and Batman it should have been an easy sell, that being said the art in this issue is just spectacular, Mikel Janins work is fan-bastard-tastic, I could not have been the only one who wanted Batman to fight the Sharks, maybe use some kind of repellent ;-). There an amazing spread of him scaling the tower, all in all he must take out 100 cronies here and it looks sensational, I really don't like the he became Batman rather than commit suicide. The last page with Bane looming over Batman with Catwoman on his arm is just wonderful.
Nightwing #10 Yes Dick is back in Bludhaven, loving that give him his own space and let him be a hero, nothing amazing here but an enjoyable issue.
Justice League #10 For my money this may have been the best issue of this book so far, I relaly enjoyed this a price on their heads the Justice League throwdown with a collection of Classic JL rogues including Giganta, Mammoth, Double Down, fricking Psimon and Plastique among others the issue closers with Amazo on the scene! Loved this, it was a lot of fun which a Justice League book should be, the art was fine, serviceable but it didn't grab me which is a shame.
Green Arrow #12 Otto Schmidt should just draw everything, I get really excited when I see him on the cover, I really hate the switching I would kill for this to be a monthly book with Schmidt on full time art duties! Good issue I like how the frame up comes in killing every one Green Arrow has interacted with, and there's also a few more shots taken at Trump with a corrupt politician who used to know Ollie featuring.
Green Lanterns #12 I am really starting to enjoy this book, I am digging the deeply flawed Phantom Lantern character, Eduardo Pansica does a fantastic job with the facial expressions he is making when switching between Lantern Corp powers, good stuff!
Sunday 4 December 2016
Pick of the week 30/11/2016 Batman Annual #1
Wow really slow week in comics, which for my bank balance was a welcome respite, some great reads here though but there was only going to be one winner and that is the brilliant Batman Annual #1.
The List;
Batman Annual #1
Superman Annual #1
JLA #10
Suicide Squad #7
Extraordinary X-Men #16
Inhumans vs X-men #0
This SHOULD have been a hard choice given we have some quality offerings here, but it really wasn't this issue is just wonderful. It takes me back to a more innocent time, what you have here is a collection of short festively themed Batman stories by a some of the top writers in DC comics today, you have Tom King, Scott Snyder, Paul Dini, Steve Orlando and Scott Wilson. I have been guilty of asking myself does Tom King really get Batman? Well on this evidence he clearly does his effort opens the proceedings with a wonderful short story of the orgins of Ace the Bathound. Things are so grim sometimes that we forget that comics can just be fun and heartwarming and thats just what this is. We see Ace as an abandoned feral, vicious attack dog forgotten about by the Joker, Bruce doesnt really want anything to do with him but Alfred insists on taking him in and slowly but surely training the anger out of him, ultimately love and patience win out. Alfred is clearly doing this for Bruce, its his present to him, this fact goes right over Bruces head however. This is just a perfectly written, fun, festive story I loved it. Scott Snyders effort involves Batman breaking patrol to be wooed by a gang of acrobats entertaining the people of Gotham for free, Bats is seeming assuming the worst, waiting for something to go wrong the whole time but nothing does, they end up even making him smile its just a nice short tale. Next up Paul Dini hits us with a proper throwback story which could have been published in the 90's. Basically Harley Quinn shows up Bats grabs here with the intension of kicking her out of town she spends the whole time trying to awaken his Christmas spirit in him, this one was really fun. Steve Orlandos effort sees the introduction of a new interesting looking character called the Stag, I am intruiged by this one, but it did break the tone of the book a bit, finally Scott Wilson closes things with a short adventure where Haunter escapes Arkham and teams up with Scarecrow only to be outwited by Batman in the end.
Overall this is just a fun read, that reminded me of being a kid and it was just wonderfull.
5/5
Elsewhere in comics...
Superman Annual #1 - This was excellent, we get a really surprisings confrontation as Superman has it out with Swampthing of all people, this was interesting as Superman coming from an alternate earth is actually damaging this earth with his prescence, the 2 duke it out before Swampthing eventually helps Clark accept this earth as his home and assists him in altering his vibrational frequency. This was fun to read and their were some great action pages here and some really innovative use of Swampthings powers.
JLA #10- I can't really stress how much I do not care about this story, its clealy a delayed title everything thats happening is out of sync with current continuity, full disclosure this was added to my pull list by accident. I am really just waiting for the new JLA team coming in 2017 which just looks excellent.
Suicide Squad #7 - I am starting to enjoy this, we have the idea for this story is that everyone else in the SS is driven mad but Harley is driven sane, there are some nice action bits and its a interesting to see Harleen Quinzel with all her faculties, we also learnthat Boomerang isn't as dead as we thought. I am not however enjoying how short the main story is to make room for these back ups, I know its to make sure Jim Lee is on time and able to honour the double shipping but honestly I would prefer 1 book a month that was all Jim Lee.
Extraordinary X-Men #16 - This issue is about tying up loose plot threads in time for Inhumans vs X-Men and it does so really well. Apocalypse is seeming destroyed (that never takes, nor should it hes awesome) but not till he is tricked into freeing Colossus from his influence (Huzzah Peteys back) Magic defeats the big bad at great personal cost and the X-Men accept that they have to leave Limbo and return to the world.
Inhumans vs X-men #0 - This is setting the scene issue for the mini series but I thought it did so really well, Emma is building a strike team to take out the Inhumans and while this is going on Beast is trying to find a cure for M-Pox, we end up of a cliff hanger whereby Beast makes a shocking discovery which he hides from the Inhumans and summons all of the X-Teams to meet him, what the discovery is we are left wondering about.
Whoo I am officially upto date!
Batman Annual #1
Superman Annual #1
JLA #10
Suicide Squad #7
Extraordinary X-Men #16
Inhumans vs X-men #0
This SHOULD have been a hard choice given we have some quality offerings here, but it really wasn't this issue is just wonderful. It takes me back to a more innocent time, what you have here is a collection of short festively themed Batman stories by a some of the top writers in DC comics today, you have Tom King, Scott Snyder, Paul Dini, Steve Orlando and Scott Wilson. I have been guilty of asking myself does Tom King really get Batman? Well on this evidence he clearly does his effort opens the proceedings with a wonderful short story of the orgins of Ace the Bathound. Things are so grim sometimes that we forget that comics can just be fun and heartwarming and thats just what this is. We see Ace as an abandoned feral, vicious attack dog forgotten about by the Joker, Bruce doesnt really want anything to do with him but Alfred insists on taking him in and slowly but surely training the anger out of him, ultimately love and patience win out. Alfred is clearly doing this for Bruce, its his present to him, this fact goes right over Bruces head however. This is just a perfectly written, fun, festive story I loved it. Scott Snyders effort involves Batman breaking patrol to be wooed by a gang of acrobats entertaining the people of Gotham for free, Bats is seeming assuming the worst, waiting for something to go wrong the whole time but nothing does, they end up even making him smile its just a nice short tale. Next up Paul Dini hits us with a proper throwback story which could have been published in the 90's. Basically Harley Quinn shows up Bats grabs here with the intension of kicking her out of town she spends the whole time trying to awaken his Christmas spirit in him, this one was really fun. Steve Orlandos effort sees the introduction of a new interesting looking character called the Stag, I am intruiged by this one, but it did break the tone of the book a bit, finally Scott Wilson closes things with a short adventure where Haunter escapes Arkham and teams up with Scarecrow only to be outwited by Batman in the end.
Overall this is just a fun read, that reminded me of being a kid and it was just wonderfull.
5/5
Elsewhere in comics...
Superman Annual #1 - This was excellent, we get a really surprisings confrontation as Superman has it out with Swampthing of all people, this was interesting as Superman coming from an alternate earth is actually damaging this earth with his prescence, the 2 duke it out before Swampthing eventually helps Clark accept this earth as his home and assists him in altering his vibrational frequency. This was fun to read and their were some great action pages here and some really innovative use of Swampthings powers.
JLA #10- I can't really stress how much I do not care about this story, its clealy a delayed title everything thats happening is out of sync with current continuity, full disclosure this was added to my pull list by accident. I am really just waiting for the new JLA team coming in 2017 which just looks excellent.
Suicide Squad #7 - I am starting to enjoy this, we have the idea for this story is that everyone else in the SS is driven mad but Harley is driven sane, there are some nice action bits and its a interesting to see Harleen Quinzel with all her faculties, we also learnthat Boomerang isn't as dead as we thought. I am not however enjoying how short the main story is to make room for these back ups, I know its to make sure Jim Lee is on time and able to honour the double shipping but honestly I would prefer 1 book a month that was all Jim Lee.
Extraordinary X-Men #16 - This issue is about tying up loose plot threads in time for Inhumans vs X-Men and it does so really well. Apocalypse is seeming destroyed (that never takes, nor should it hes awesome) but not till he is tricked into freeing Colossus from his influence (Huzzah Peteys back) Magic defeats the big bad at great personal cost and the X-Men accept that they have to leave Limbo and return to the world.
Inhumans vs X-men #0 - This is setting the scene issue for the mini series but I thought it did so really well, Emma is building a strike team to take out the Inhumans and while this is going on Beast is trying to find a cure for M-Pox, we end up of a cliff hanger whereby Beast makes a shocking discovery which he hides from the Inhumans and summons all of the X-Teams to meet him, what the discovery is we are left wondering about.
Whoo I am officially upto date!
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