A Sunday Comic Books Review

Here are reviews of the DCBS comic books that I've gotten around to reading and reviewing, sorted by the original shipping date:

• Oct 24th
• Titans #28 - A Drowned Earth tie-in, with Garth as a main character. The Heroes in Crisis storyline feeds into this one as well, since Titans apparently died in that (hard for me to take any superhero death seriously, sorry). It took me WAY too long to figure out who Steel was, otherwise it was a mostly ok story with some good moments. It showed Garth's powers and referenced the Titans as they were, so I thought it was decent.
• Batman Beyond #25 - This is a perfect jump-on issue, with lots of backstory and explanation of what has been happening in this version of the DCU to get to this tale. A little bit of classic Batman along with the new, and lots of references to the past. A good one to pick up if you just want to know what Batman Beyond is about.
• Scooby-Doo Team-Up #43 - Thanks to watching the Doom Patrol show, I knew what was happening when the Mystery Machine ended up on Danny the Street. It also gave me a good idea of what was happening throughout the rest of the book. I'm not sure if this is the strangest team-up these guys have done, but it's definitely odd.
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 #2 - Um. Wow. Ok. That was remarkably confusing and a whole lotta fun. I'm not entirely sure what I was reading there, but by the end I was just enjoying the ride and ignoring the plot, such as it is. I suspect fans of MST3K would enjoy this, as would fans of old comic books.
• Beasts of Burden: Wise Dogs and Eldritch Men #3 - Oh, I had a feeling about that dog. I didn't have the advantage the Wise Dogs had, though, of being able to smell him as well. Still, I had a distinct feeling, no doubt based on subtle clues the artist and writer provided, that they were walking into a trap. And it turns out they knew it, too. So how is this going to play out? I can hardly wait for the next issue.
• Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #7 - And Sakai nails the landing. This final issue was mostly one big battle over a book, but OH what a battle. And what an outcome! I never suspected, not even for a moment, that final revelation. Of course, if anyone could have pulled it off, it would have been Ishida. Wow. Fantastic. Get this series.


• Oct 31st
• Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1 - I want to like this. It's a crossover featuring Mera! But, it's really not that great. The art is weak and the plot is depressing. There's just not a lot here for me to enjoy beyond Aquaman and Mera. There's even a timing conflict with Titans. I'm tired of stories that are about world-threatening horrors. I just want GOOD stories.
• Heroes in Crisis #2 - Yeah, so when I read the first issue I didn't register who had died. And I'm still not sure who was supposed to have perished. And some big part of me rejects this entire storyline, because the heroes/villains supposedly killed off will no doubt be back soon enough. So I'm just not sure how to react to this thing. I just find myself sighing and hoping it leads to some interesting story, because so far I'm not impressed. Um, is it mean of me to say Lagoon Boy's death is no big loss to the DCU?
• Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound Special #1 - I really don't know what kind of story I was expecting with a crossover like this, but it was NOT this story. This was excellent. Huckleberry Hound was less a character than a sounding board, but it made for a good story anyway. I don't really know that much about John Stewart's Green Lantern, so I don't know how much of this is canon in the current DCU, but it worked as a story and it worked for the character. Good stuff. I did not read the back-up story.
• Archie Meets Batman '66 #4 - This is a stark contrast to the dreary Archie 1941 that I'm also reading. But then, anything involving Batman '66 has always been great, particularly when Jeff Parker is writing it. This issue gets Batman/Bruce Wayne into Riverdale and also shows off how resilient Jughead, of all people, actually is. And no, that's not the Bat-signal. I never thought I'd see a Jughead signal.
• Stranger Things #2 - Oh man. When I watched the first season, I wondered how Will had survived there. This comic series gives some answers, and shows how it looked from Will's side. It's terrifying. I really need to go watch the second and third seasons some time, too.
• Edgar Allan Poe's Snifter of Terror #1 - I am not a big horror fan - at least not of gory or gross horror. Thus, the first story in this book really does absolutely nothing for me. The second story made me squee, though, using certain iconic characters the way it did. Now, full disclosure, I planned to only order The Wrong Earth and Captain Ginger from Ahoy Comics, because they were the two that appealed to me. This book got added to my list only because they accepted a story from me, and it was due to be printed in an issue of this title. So I figured I had better read the whole series. Despite not really enjoying the, um, atmosphere of the first story, I'm glad I got it. It may not be completely my cuppa, but it's certainly not bad.

A Sunday Comic Books Review

Here are reviews of the DCBS comic books that I've gotten around to reading and reviewing, sorted by the original shipping date:

• Jun 6th
• Justice League #1 - Something happened in a crossover I didn't buy or read that resulted in something to do with the Source Wall, and now we jump - with a first issue - into an incomprehensible epic storyline that I have utterly no interest in at all that is totally lacking a proper backstory. Oh DC, you can do better than this.
• Green Lanterns #48 - Ok, I thought the Green Lanterns were after Jessica because she somehow altered her ring. But now we've got her on the run because she blacked out or something? It's all very strange, and not nearly as bad as I was afraid it would be.
• Bombshells United #19 - Ah, this must be the final issue, because it pretty much wraps up the entire series and includes a little "where are they now?" epilogue. The last few issues seemed rushed to me, but I very much enjoyed Aquawoman and Atlantis in this series, so I'll forgive it the later flaws. Speaking of, Aquawoman and Arthur show up again in a single panel, and are mentioned in the epilogue.
• Doctor Strange #1 - The pretentiousness of the text in describing Doctor Strange put me off more than a bit, to the point where I just didn't feel like reading it after the first two times I read "the magician" and just wanted to reach in and smack the narrator. Irritating reading, but a potentially interesting plot.
• The Tick #4 - Did we actually learn anything at all about his origin, or was it just a chaotic mess? I'm really not certain. I'm still kind of reeling from all the clowns and ninjas and new heroes and stuff. This book is strange.


• Jun 13th
• Plastic Man #1 - Well, this is a goofy start, which is excellent for this particular character. I don't have a lot to say about the issue just because it works. On every level of what I know about the character and the current DC Universe, it just works. If I were a bigger Plastic Man fan I'm sure I'd be jumping for joy at it, but as it is I'm amused and pleased. And what more can you ask for from a comic book?
• Titans Special #1 - I'm not sure why we bought this book. Possibly because we thought Garth might be in it? In any case, it holds very little interest to me, except as a way of twisting my mind because I'm currently rewatching Young Justice and this has echoes of some of those storylines. Right. In any case, it's just part of the big crossover event I ignored. On to the next.
• Scooby Apocalypse #26 - Six month time jump after the events of the previous issue, which were definitely shocking. My least favorite character in the Scooby-verse makes a return, but there's enough mystery building up with all the references to the dead that I'm wondering where the story is headed. So, a good issue, overall.
• SpongeBob Comics #81 - Ah! Finally, an issue with a Mermaid Man story! And one that makes an interesting point about secret identities. No, not all superheroes have secret identities. In fact, some of those with secret identities rely on the fact that others don't have them to make having a secret identity seem unreasonable. Anyone would think being Superman is a full-time job, right? The twist was a tiny bit unexpected for me, but does it mean SpongeBob thinks like a villain? A fun issue for me.
• Back To The Future: Tales from the Time Train #6 - All well that ends well, I guess. It was a nice wrap-up with most of the characters getting enough time to sort out their fates. I was amused at the "mysterious stranger" and how Doc Brown reacted to meeting him (and his dog). Overall, the issue isn't bad, although the series was about two issues too long for me.

A Sunday Comic Books Review

Here are reviews of the DCBS comic books that I've gotten around to reading and reviewing, sorted by the original shipping date:

• Apr 25th
• Mera: Queen of Atlantis #3 - It's interesting to see Orm and Mera chatting without trying to kill each other. Also to see them trying to explain royal duty, pounded into them from birth. I feel like Orm's attempt to become a drylander may be doomed, but I hope I'm wrong. I like Erin and Tommy. And it would be fascinating if Erin has more children (which is possible now, since they've been living together for awhile). Good art, progress on the story, I like it.
• Teen Titans #19 - The ending of this storyline was rather abrupt... so there is a hack and it's done? And not even obviously - Robin has to tell us. I'm not terribly impressed by the finish, although the story and concept had promise. I think this might be the last issue of this book we bought because of a distinct lack of Aqualad in future issues. It was... eh, an ok series.
• Titans Annual #2 - Yeah, that was a good ending to an intense story that took way too long to develop. I liked Mallah's part in this one. I'm not sure what to think of the development of the Titans, but Mallah was fun.
• Batman Beyond #19 - Dana really has a point in this one, even though Bruce just sent the kid to blow up a couple of power sources. Doesn't he have a handy drone that he could have used to do the same thing, and thus not put Matt in danger? I'm a little confused and distressed by the direction of this book. I'm not sure what I expect from it anymore.
• Scooby-Doo Team-Up #37 - This feels like a classic Silver Age (or even Golden Age) tale, complete with hiding a secret identity and a tiny piece of Kryptonite. Fun stuff!
• Doctor Strange #389 - The dog is still the most interesting thing about this book. And the dog isn't even alive. Maybe this crossover is done and we'll get actual stories now?
• Prisoner #1 - I've never been much of a fan of the tv show. I'm a bit too straightforward in my plotting and thinking to enjoy something that never makes sense on purpose. But this is an slightly different take, with sort of a reason behind everything that's happening. Yeah, I'm curious to see what happens next.
• Forever Free #1 - This is an adaptation of a book I've never read. I was confused at first, because it started before the end of the war - then I realized it was from the other character's point of view. Interesting, and no burden of my history with the story to interfere with my enjoyment of the book as just a book.


• May 2nd
• Green Lanterns #46 - We get to the heart of the matter in this issue, and it was nicely done. We saw what happened to Jessica's friends on that hunting trip and, through Simon, we learned what the alien lawyer is doing to Jessica via her memories. This story shaped up nicely and I'm actually eager to read the next issue. That's a good thing.
• Bombshells United #17 - This feels like, "let's throw everything in the pot, turn up the heat, and see what happens." I'm not even interested in most of the characters or what happens to them now.


• May 9th
• Scooby Apocalypse #25 - Well, *that* was a shocker. And a very interesting way to present it, as well. I know this series isn't going to go on forever, but this development changes what little future it has. Wow.
• SpongeBob Comics #80 - Well, there was a sort-of Mermaid Man appearance, but it was... surreal. In fact, this was a pretty surreal issue all over.
• Back To The Future: Tales from the Time Train #5 - Chaos, a little more chaos, and then, just to be sure, some more chaos on top. Along with a mystery person who has ALL the dogs. I'm mildly interested in finding out who the mystery person is (although I have a guess) but otherwise I'm not that interested.

A Sunday Comic Books Review

Here are reviews of the DCBS comic books that I've gotten around to reading and reviewing, sorted by the original shipping date:

• Apr 4th
• Justice League #42 - I want to like this book, but this mess of a storyline has just about driven me away.
• Green Lanterns #44 - What kind of a deal has Jess made, and what kind of price is she paying? Interesting story, but since it's mostly set-up, I'm not sure how to react just yet.
• Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #6 - Shapeshifters. I don't love 'em. Not a bad reversal on the situation set up in the final issue - enough clues were left to figure it out. But still, it felt a little extreme. Not a bad mini, but I'm really new to this character and (Sorry Tony) I like the TV version slightly more.
• Bombshells United #15 - Did the plot move at all in this issue? I don't think so.
• Astro City #51 - Yeah, it would be hard to explain a person who never really existed to people who lost close friends and family. That said, I think he's selling himself a bit short. His pain is as real as theirs. Still, actions speak louder than words. His actions at the end of this part of the story ought to be enough to convince anyone with a heart. I am really looking forward to the next issue.
• Apr 11th
• Titans #22 - I can't even remember why the league imprisoned Donna, but the sheer rudeness and dismissiveness makes me happy that Batman is being attacked at the end of the book. Seems like Roy and Donna are the only ones with any idea what's happening. I would like to see more members of the Titans, but eh, this seems to be wrapping up. I'm pretty sure we dropped the book once we were sure Tempest was no longer in it.
• Scooby Apocalypse #24 - What is Daphne up to? For that matter, what's gotten into Fred? And why do those two armies never reduce in size? This book is delivering on the mystery aspect.
• Doctor Strange #388 - Yeah, I'm still not sure what the heck is happening in this book. I feel like I'm only reading part of the story. Probably because it's part of some crossover. In any case, I like the dog more than the doctor.
• Back To The Future: Tales from the Time Train #4 - Not much of anything at all happens in this issue. Just lots of circling around until everyone finally gets into almost the same space. Bored now.
• Spongebob Comics #79 - This issue gets a little meta, with comics being part of the plotline. It's about standard fare, with a brief appearance of a Mermaid Man comic book, so it's a little better than average for me.
• Apr 18th
• Aquaman #35 - So Rath becomes what he depises, but hey, that's the price of power, right? Murk is what I've come to expect. A lumbering soldier whose only loyalty is to the people of Atlantis - once Aquaman makes it clear he doesn't want to be king, Murk is ok again. But how is Aquaman, even with his new allies, supposed to fight the darkest magics of Atlantis? Interesting stuff.
• Justice League #43 - Meh. This whole story was messed up from the beginning. It appears to have been trying hard to be a saga with interlocking ideas and events... the result was something best read as a trade. Issue by issue it just didn't work for me. Hopefully, the next storyline won't be so tangled and pointless.
• Action Comics #1000 - I suppose we got this because of the issue number. Well, it was ok. Aquaman shows up in a couple of group images, so that was nice. None of the stories stood out to me as spectacular, none were particularly bad. A nice anniversary issue.
• Green Lanterns #45 - Ok, this is a story that I've wanted to read since we first learned about Jessica Cruz. She's not what I expected. A hunting trip? Expertise in killing animals because she's been doing it all her life? Wow. I'm really eager to find out more. Add in a dash of Constantine, and I'm hooked.
• Bombshells United #16 - Nice finish. It kind of sorted itself out after a really confusing issue. I think you could have combined this with the last issue and lost nothing.
• Teen Titans Go #27 - Not a particularly great issue. I mean, it would make sense for insurance to be an evil plot, but at the end nothing changed. And the spring cleaning story was... just odd.
• Rough Riders: Ride or Die #3 - So by acting like someone is a bad person, you can turn them into a bad person in the afterlife? Not a pleasant issue.
• Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #2 - This mystery is developing nicely, with Usage and Ishida searching for answers in all the right places. Knowing the cultural problems and issues makes this story more delicious to read - there is a lot going on below the surface. I still think Usagi Yojimbo is possibly the best comic book on the shelves whenever it is published.