[ This post is entirely based on the comics that I read from the current week, not a best of or highlights of the week list. The rest of the stuff I didn't read was either me not being interested in them or not being able to get my hands on them. ]
BATMAN #73
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin
Synopsis:
"The Fall and the Fallen" part four! Batman has been defeated by Bane's minions and chased out of Gotham. As a last-ditch effort to save his son from the lonely fate of being Batman, his father from another universe, Thomas Wayne, a.k.a. the Flashpoint Batman, is taking Bruce to the far ends of the Earth to try to give him the one thing that will cause him to give up crime-fighting for good.
My thoughts:
Despite better than the last issue in content, this still seems quite pointless to me. Loved the character interaction between Bruce and his alternate reality father, loved the drawing and the colors a lot. But the pace is just too slow.
This all seems just a needless build up for 'City of Bane'. And the song was annoying as hell. Expected some better dialogue from Tom King, but I really liked the psychological approach to storytelling rather than plain action.
Hoping for much more improvement in future issues.
Rating:
7 out of 10.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #26
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Javi Fernandez
Synopsis:
After being off-planet for so long, the Justice League must try to pick up the pieces of their lives-but Lex Luthor has other plans. If he has his way, he'll show all of humanity that the Justice League will never be there in the world's time of need!
My thoughts:
Well, nothing much really happens here, to be honest. This issue starts off a new arc rather slowly. Dialogue heavy and cameo infused storytelling with a huge cast of characters is fully on display here. The scope often feels a bit too much to be contained in this single issue.
I would have liked a lot of action in my team superhero comics, and this one offers none at all. While the overarching story of Perpetua and Lex Luthor is quite interesting, this issue as a whole offers little and falls rather flat on its promises.
Art was okay, the different characters from the multiverse were a joy to look at, but once again the lack of action rather hampers the enjoyment for me.
Rating:
6 out of 10.
DAREDEVIL #7
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma
Synopsis:
• In the aftermath of Chip Zdarsky's explosive first arc of DAREDEVIL, the ground of Hell's Kitchen has shifted and Matthew Murdock has emerged a changed man...but for better or worse?
• Don't miss the second installment of this new arc: "No Devils, Only God"!
My thoughts:
This series keeps getting better and better. We delve further into Matt's struggles to pursue a life without super heroics. But a costumed vigilante can never return to normal life, can he?
'Chip Zdarsky' really knows how to get into the psyche of his characters and its apparent here once more. Long time fans will surely fill the emotional turmoil together with our hero on a personal basis through this writing.
I wish the drawing was a bit better, but when the story is this good I can not but wait for future installments.
One of the best on goings of Marvel right now.
Rating:
8.5 out of 10.
USAGI YOJIMBO #1
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer & Artist: Stan Sakai
Synopsis:
Follow the adventures of rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi as he wanders Edo period Japan on his warrior's journey. In the start of this three-part story, Usagi becomes embroiled in a puppet drama where the players are not quite what they seem! Written, drawn, and lettered by comics legend Stan Sakai! Colors by Tom Luth (Groo the Wanderer)!
The start of an exciting new chapter in the epic ongoing saga of Usagi, now published by IDW!
Exciting retail incentive variants are offered for the serialized Usagi Yojimbo series for the first time!
This series will be in all color!
My thoughts:
I never read any of the Usagi Yojimbo stories, and was quite unprepared for the story. While the art required a bit getting used to and I wasn't at all familiar with the characters at all, the charm is clearly visible here.
The story has a unique kind of allure to it that kept me turning the pages, and thinking of going into past issues/volumes to relive the atmospherics. The fun bits about Japanese history and cultures are always an added bonus.
A nice little intro story that, while certainly not for everyone, but has a kind of magic that will make people coming back for more.
Rating:
8 out of 10.
PSI-LORDS #1
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Renato Guedes
Synopsis:
Who are the cosmic beings known only as the Psi-Lords? And how will they change the course of the Universe in this brand-new ongoing series?
Four astronauts awake in an otherworldly prison with no memory of how they got there! What is their connection to the Psi-Lords? And how will they escape?
Fred Van Lente is crafting a lively sci-fi mystery, and Renato Guedes' art is (literally) out of this world.
My thoughts:
While the amnesia points-of-view characters are nothing new, this action packed first issue was a quick read with its fast pace and visceral action. The overall mystery of the setting is just beginning and the intensity on offer is another fun fact.
The characters are not actually relatable on a personal level and much is left to be desired on the overall emotional impact.
The drawing by 'Renato Guedes' is unique and colorful and draws attention to the action quite strongly.
I am hoping for more originality in the future issues though.
Rating:
6.5 out of 10.
[ PS: I haven't caught up with stuff like 'A Walk Through Hell', 'Aquaman' or 'Uncanny X-men' yet and couldn't make enough time to try anything else this week. ]
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin
Synopsis:
"The Fall and the Fallen" part four! Batman has been defeated by Bane's minions and chased out of Gotham. As a last-ditch effort to save his son from the lonely fate of being Batman, his father from another universe, Thomas Wayne, a.k.a. the Flashpoint Batman, is taking Bruce to the far ends of the Earth to try to give him the one thing that will cause him to give up crime-fighting for good.
My thoughts:
Despite better than the last issue in content, this still seems quite pointless to me. Loved the character interaction between Bruce and his alternate reality father, loved the drawing and the colors a lot. But the pace is just too slow.
This all seems just a needless build up for 'City of Bane'. And the song was annoying as hell. Expected some better dialogue from Tom King, but I really liked the psychological approach to storytelling rather than plain action.
Hoping for much more improvement in future issues.
Rating:
7 out of 10.
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Javi Fernandez
Synopsis:
After being off-planet for so long, the Justice League must try to pick up the pieces of their lives-but Lex Luthor has other plans. If he has his way, he'll show all of humanity that the Justice League will never be there in the world's time of need!
My thoughts:
Well, nothing much really happens here, to be honest. This issue starts off a new arc rather slowly. Dialogue heavy and cameo infused storytelling with a huge cast of characters is fully on display here. The scope often feels a bit too much to be contained in this single issue.
I would have liked a lot of action in my team superhero comics, and this one offers none at all. While the overarching story of Perpetua and Lex Luthor is quite interesting, this issue as a whole offers little and falls rather flat on its promises.
Art was okay, the different characters from the multiverse were a joy to look at, but once again the lack of action rather hampers the enjoyment for me.
Rating:
6 out of 10.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma
Synopsis:
• In the aftermath of Chip Zdarsky's explosive first arc of DAREDEVIL, the ground of Hell's Kitchen has shifted and Matthew Murdock has emerged a changed man...but for better or worse?
• Don't miss the second installment of this new arc: "No Devils, Only God"!
My thoughts:
This series keeps getting better and better. We delve further into Matt's struggles to pursue a life without super heroics. But a costumed vigilante can never return to normal life, can he?
'Chip Zdarsky' really knows how to get into the psyche of his characters and its apparent here once more. Long time fans will surely fill the emotional turmoil together with our hero on a personal basis through this writing.
I wish the drawing was a bit better, but when the story is this good I can not but wait for future installments.
One of the best on goings of Marvel right now.
Rating:
8.5 out of 10.
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer & Artist: Stan Sakai
Synopsis:
Follow the adventures of rabbit ronin Miyamoto Usagi as he wanders Edo period Japan on his warrior's journey. In the start of this three-part story, Usagi becomes embroiled in a puppet drama where the players are not quite what they seem! Written, drawn, and lettered by comics legend Stan Sakai! Colors by Tom Luth (Groo the Wanderer)!
The start of an exciting new chapter in the epic ongoing saga of Usagi, now published by IDW!
Exciting retail incentive variants are offered for the serialized Usagi Yojimbo series for the first time!
This series will be in all color!
My thoughts:
I never read any of the Usagi Yojimbo stories, and was quite unprepared for the story. While the art required a bit getting used to and I wasn't at all familiar with the characters at all, the charm is clearly visible here.
The story has a unique kind of allure to it that kept me turning the pages, and thinking of going into past issues/volumes to relive the atmospherics. The fun bits about Japanese history and cultures are always an added bonus.
A nice little intro story that, while certainly not for everyone, but has a kind of magic that will make people coming back for more.
Rating:
8 out of 10.
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Renato Guedes
Synopsis:
Who are the cosmic beings known only as the Psi-Lords? And how will they change the course of the Universe in this brand-new ongoing series?
Four astronauts awake in an otherworldly prison with no memory of how they got there! What is their connection to the Psi-Lords? And how will they escape?
Fred Van Lente is crafting a lively sci-fi mystery, and Renato Guedes' art is (literally) out of this world.
My thoughts:
While the amnesia points-of-view characters are nothing new, this action packed first issue was a quick read with its fast pace and visceral action. The overall mystery of the setting is just beginning and the intensity on offer is another fun fact.
The characters are not actually relatable on a personal level and much is left to be desired on the overall emotional impact.
The drawing by 'Renato Guedes' is unique and colorful and draws attention to the action quite strongly.
I am hoping for more originality in the future issues though.
Rating:
6.5 out of 10.
[ PS: I haven't caught up with stuff like 'A Walk Through Hell', 'Aquaman' or 'Uncanny X-men' yet and couldn't make enough time to try anything else this week. ]
