Comic Vine Site Mashup

Teen Titans Go! - 'La Larva Amor' Clip and Images

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:35:00 -0700

Each Tuesday you can watch a new episode of Teen Titans Go! It appears that the show is now airing one new mini-episode along with a previously seen one in the second half, similar to Adventure Time. At least we're still getting something new. No word on whether this is the standard moving forward.

On Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, Cartoon Network will air "La Larva Amor."

While Starfire is away, the other Titans let Silky wander away to Mexico, where he shares romantic intrigue worthy of a telenovela with a dramatic Mexican beauty and her jealous lover.

Here's a clip from the episode:

Warner Bros. Entertainment also sent over a few images from the episode.

Comic Book Question of the Week Results: Favorite Geoff Johns Green Lantern Story

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:02:00 -0700

While it's sad to see Geoff Johns leave GREEN LANTERN after spending nearly a decade expanding the universe, he at least left us with shockingly impressive swan song. If you haven't read GREEN LANTERN #20 yet, go do that right now. It's well worth the cover price. This Tuesday we asked which Johns story was your favorite and the results are now in.

Over 200 Viners voted and one arc rose above the rest: 'Sinestro Corps War.' Earning 40% of the votes (including mine), it's easy to understand why this one blasted apart the competition. While 'Rebirth' is the superb story that kicked off Geoff's time with Hal, 'Sinestro Corps War' is widely considered the go-to tale once you're hooked into the cosmic ride that is Green Lantern. This adventure is nothing short of an epic blockbuster filled with countless jaw-dropping moments, plenty of familiar faces and some truly exhilarating action. Sinestro's might is on full display here and at the end of the day, this is absolutely considered a must read.

Here's the poll results:

Agent Orange 2%
Blackest Night 31%
Brightest Day 3%
Rage of the Red Lanterns 4%
Rebirth 9%
Rise of the Third Army 0%
Secret Origin 5%
Sinestro Corps War 40%
War of the Green Lanterns 4%
Wrath of the First Lantern 0%
Other 2%

Personally, I'm a sucker for the Arkillo/Kilowog rivalry and adore the insanely powerful attack which concluded it. But what's your favorite moment from the story, Viners? Speak your mind below!

Exclusive Preview: CATWOMAN ANNUAL #1

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:12:00 -0700

Gotham City isn't the most pleasant place in the DC Universe and Catwoman is going to find herself in the Badlands, where the subsidized housing projects are. When Catwoman gets a tip there's going to be a murder, she decides to head over there. The annual will be tying into the regular series.

Check out this exclusive preview courtesy of DC Comics.

CATWOMAN ANNUAL #1

It’s Cat vs. Bird for the dark heart of Gotham City! Kicking off an explosive new storyline that continues into CATWOMAN, Selina must choose work for a master—or pay a high price for her freedom!

Written by: Ann Nocenti

Art by: Christian Duce, Aaron Lopresti, John Livesay

Cover by: Emanuela Lupacchino

Color/B&W: Color

Page Count: 48

U.S. Price: 4.99

On Sale Date: May 29 2013

Interview: Justin Jordan Talks GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:17:00 -0700

Geoff Johns' epic GREEN LANTERN #20 has paved a new path for the massive Lantern universe and, come June, new creative teams are going to hop on the various GL titles and take all of the key characters in an all-new journey. If you've been following along, then you know there's been a major change with Kyle Rayner and he's now an immensely powerful White Lantern. While the rest of the roster in GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS has yet to be revealed, we do know writer Justin Jordan will base his opening story around Kyle and the Templar Guardians. We had a chance to chat with Jordan about why he thinks Kyle's a unique character and how he'd describe the series.

Comic Vine: What’s it like taking over a title after such a huge event? Do you like having a direction already basically set in stone or does it kind of limit your options with the character?

Justin Jordan: I wouldn’t say it limits my options a whole lot. I mean, it’s kind of the nature of work-for-hire business. You can’t have, generally speaking, Batman chuck Joker into a blender and set it to puree. You’re always working within restrictions so this isn’t real different. I was actually given relatively free rein to do what I wanted with the books, working it out with editorial and all that kind of stuff. The most daunting prospect is probably just coming onto a popular property in general. I mean, Green Lantern titles tend to have fans who are really, really into the books and that’s a little daunting because you don’t want to screw it up.

CV: Were you a big fan of the Green Lantern universe prior to this or not really?

JJ: It got to be one of those things where keeping track of the books got to be kind of overwhelming for me at a certain point. Conceptually, I like the idea a whole lot, I just haven’t been able to keep up with it as much as I would like. One of the dirty secrets about comics in particular is when you start writing them eventually you run out of time to actually read them as much as you would like.

CV: Why do you think Kyle Rayner’s someone who deserves the spotlight?

JJ: He’s bringing a different kind of perspective to Green Lantern – that’s kind of been true from the beginning. They tried to go with someone who has an artistic background, who looked at things from a different point of view. You know, a fairly different mindset than someone like Hal Jordan who comes from a kind of military background. And that’s still the case and we want to emphasize the idea that Kyle, just because of his role as a White Lantern and stuff, is sort of outside of the GL key structure. This means he can look at what the core as a whole is doing from a different perspective that somebody inside it just can’t do. I think that’s an interesting way to contrast and explore the other books.

CV: You mention Kyle’s an artist. Will we see that expressed through his constructs?

JJ: Yes. It comes up a couple of times in the first two issues so that’s not something we’ll be ignoring.

CV: What’s it like trying to create obstacles for a hero who has become incredibly powerful?

JJ: (laughs) Tricky. That’s one of the things that kind of interests me about it and I kind of talked about this before when I was talking about Superboy because it kind of applies to superheroes across the board. That kind of power doesn’t give you the ability to just fix things. My go to example is yeah, you can go to a world that’s ruled by this cruel dictator and you take out the dictator… that doesn’t change the world fundamentally. All the structures that are in place to allow that are still there. If you went to Apokolips and eliminated Darkseid, you’ve still got the Hunger Dogs and all those problems are still there – you haven’t magically turned it into a paradise. That’s just not how things work and that’s the same thing with raw power. Raw power isn’t enough to necessarily make the changes you want to make. The trick with working with somebody like Kyle who has a lot of powers at his fingertips is presenting him with problems that that power just isn’t enough for. Problems that make him have to think. That present ethical and moral kind of quandaries for him.

CV: Is Kyle's supporting cast going to remain extraterrestrial or will he reconnect with his Earthly roots? Additionally, can you drop any hints about the roster?

JJ: I can tell you there is a reason for the book to be called “new guardians.” I can also tell you somebody else from Earth will be a supporting character in the book.

CV: At the moment, it seems like Arkillo and his corps have headed for the hills. Will we see them reappear in your book?

JJ: Maybe. I’m not against it. I don’t have any concrete plans for it in the issues I have sketched out right now. But I like those characters, so if I have an opportunity for those characters to come back and it actually makes sense then I am absolutely not against it.

CV: Any plans to bring Soranik Natu (Sinestro’s daughter) back into Kyle’s life?

JJ: Nope, not right now.

CV: If you could describe your NEW GUARDIANS run in five words, what would they be?

JJ: Bad-ass cosmic exploration.

CV: I’m sold.

JJ: That was four words!

CV: Would you like to add another word or do those four sum it up perfectly?

JJ: I think those four sum it up!

CV: If DC said you could add anyone to the book, who would you pick?

JJ: Lobo!

CV: Why’s that?

JJ: Well, first of all I love Lobo and I’d love a chance to write Lobo. And I think anyone that’s read LUTHER STRODE knows I’m clearly the guy for the job! Beyond that… kind of down and dirty visceral character contrasted with Kyle and contrasted with people in the core and the supporting cast. I don’t know that he would work as a continuing cast member but at least for a few issues until somebody got sick of him or he got sick of Kyle. I think it would be interesting to bounce them off each other.

CV: Your time with Deathstroke was unfortunately cut short. If you had more time with the character, where would you take him?

JJ: I would have liked to have developed Deathstroke’s supporting cast. One of the things that is difficult about writing a character like Deathstroke is it was basically just Deathstroke and whoever he was fighting. That’s kind of a hard way to write a book. There’s not a lot of ways to bounce him off somebody to show how they’d react to different situations. Beyond that, I would have liked to come up with interesting ways to challenge his intellect rather than him just shooting stuff in the head. I would have liked to bounce him off some of the existing heroes and villains in the DC universe – I think that would have been fun. The sales just weren’t there and I’m kind of bummed about that. I enjoyed writing Deathstroke so I wish I had gotten to do it for more than five or six issues.

CV: Likewise. That was a great finale, though.

JJ: Thanks. A lot of credit for that goes to Tony Bedard, though. Some of the bad-assness there goes to him and Edgar Salazar.

CV: If a power ring sought out Deathstroke, which color would select him?

JJ: Yellow. Green or yellow. He’d be a weird choice for a green one but his willpower is one of his defining traits for me so I can make an argument for that. All the others I don’t think work… people like red, but I don’t view Deathstroke as a pissed off guy.

CV: Oh yeah, he’s definitely collected. Is there anything else you’d like to add about the series or your other work (SUPERBOY, LUTHER STRODE)?

JJ: I hope they’re all fun. I mean, fundamentally I want people to read comics and be entertained and I think SUPERBOY and NEW GUARDIANS and LUTHER STRODE are all doing that. At least I’m having fun writing them so I’m hoping that transfers to the reading of them.

CV: Thanks, Justin!

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #21 comes out June 19th.

You can follow Justin Jordan on Twitter @Justin_Jordan

Gregg Katzman is a freelance writer for Comic Vine and IGN Entertainment. This is the part where he shamelessly plugs his Twitter page in hopes of getting a new follower or two.

Off THEIR Minds: Should Superheroes Be Allowed to Drink?

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 -0700

Heroes are always 'on call,' right? We ask Kyle Higgins, James Tynion IV, Jimmy Palmiotti, John Layman, Jim McCann, Chris Burnham, Franco and Art Baltazar.

The Flash #20

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:20:00 -0700

The Good

Looks like we have a mystery on our hands. We caught a glimpse at the new Reverse Flash last issue. For some reason he's killing those touched by the Speed Force. From the little we see, it opens up the door for major problems for the Flash. Barry Allen is trying to get his life back in order after being presumed dead for a while. Even with all his speed, he might not be prepared for what he finds.

Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul are reunited as the writers and art team on the book. As the story unfolds, you're going to want to pay close attention to every detail on each page. The two writers have been cryptic in interviews about the motives of this new Reverse Flash and it's a great feeling being able to read a comic and not being sure what's going to happen. Too often these days, the big stories get spoiled intentionally or unintentionally.

It's not just about the Flash and the new threat in town. We're seeing more on the relationship between Barry and Patty but what about Iris? Whenever she shows up you can't help but feel the awkwardness. Manapul and Buccellato know how the unwind the story elements. There's a great variety in the pacing and seeing Barry actually slow down for certain things gives the book a unique feeling. Even the smallest appearances by other characters adds to the overall feel of the book in it not just being about Barry.

Manapul's art combined with Buccellato's colors was missed the last couple issues. Seeing it all is like seeing an old friend. It hasn't been that long but the whole package of art, color and writing is what makes this book stand out from the others.

We get some great set up in the first part of this new arc. It's clear that soe big things are coming.

The Bad

It's issues like this that make you long for the days when issues contained an extra couple pages. While this is a book about a speedster and even though Barry does do some things at normal speed, it almost feels like some minor things had to be sped up a little, like Barry finding out what the nature of Albert's device was.

Gomez and Flash's interaction seemed a tad extreme. It's understandable why Gomez would react that way but having a conversation while fighting just felt a little weird.

The Verdict

Who is the Reverse Flash? What the heck does he want and why is he killing those touched by the Speed Force? That's the big question and you'll be glued to the pages as you try to figure out what he's all about. Buccellato and Manapul are back together after two issues and seeing the art, colors and writing reminds you why this is such a refreshing series. There is plenty that happens here but it feels a tiny bit short on action as it sets up the beginning of a new arc in a big way. With the new character and the tease at the end of this issue, it's going to be a long wait until next month's issue.

Fantastic Four #8

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:02:00 -0700

The Good

We've seen Ben Grimm given a once-a-year cure from being the Thing. It's once again time for his transformation and it's Ben's wish to return to a certain point in the past to visit Yancy Street. Seeing his adventure and the reason for his visit is fascinating to see as it unfolds.

It's not often we get to see Ben in his human form and it is a glorious site. He is more than just a hero made of rocks. Of course the fact that he's in Yancy Street's past is a kick as well.

While this is happening, we start to see the seeds being planted for the team's next visit which might change what we know about a certain character, in a big way.

As a fan of Mark Bagley, it's always great to see what he does each issue. Seeing his version of Yancy Street in the past is pretty cool. You have to love his rendition of Ben Grimm as well.

The Bad

The story was enjoyable but just seemed to be lacking a little something. Ben has a reason in mind for visiting the past. You have to assume he didn't make it clear to Reed and the others what his actual intentions were. It does say something about Ben in the way things turned out. It just felt like his once-a-year transformation happened too quickly and didn't even last an entire issue.

It might be nitpicking but the fact that a year has passed in comics since Ben's last transformation is a little unsettling. Yes it's been a while (in our time) but the passing of time in comics, even at a slower pace, shouldn't be addressed. Comic characters remain ageless in a sense due to this and it allows for more stories. Maybe it's time to allow characters like Franklin and Valeria to age another year but looking at the big picture, it's not something I really want to think about.

The Verdict

The idea of the Thing returning to human form once a year is a neat idea. Unfortunately that time feels as if it's come too quickly and passes by even quicker. The action in this story passed by way too fast and it feels like it was just setting things up for the possible big implications hinted at for the next issue. Ben Grimm in Yancy Street was cool but with his 'mission' changing, it just felt like an average story instead of being allowed to have story elements fleshed out. I just wanted more from the issue. But we do have a pretty big twist possibly coming next issue.

The Green Team: Teen Trillionaires #1

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:01:00 -0700

The Good

I have long been of the opinion that Art and Franco are incapable of writing a bad book, and GREEN TEAM #1 absolutely reinforces that notion. The Eisner-winning kings of the all-ages scene show off their versatility in DC's newest ongoing series, and I'm wondering if there's anything they can't do.

GREEN TEAM is clever and fun right out of the gate. There's a lot to communicate right away, so it's a little bit heavy on both dialogue and voiceover, but the scripting is tight and easy to follow. Art and Franco keep things incredibly grounded (especially considering the subject), and fluidly reference tech, pop culture, and the nexus at which they meet. Ironically -- considering that it's a revamp of a one-shot from the 1970s -- this may be one of the most zeitgeist-y books coming out of DC right now. Where else will you find portmanteaus like "poxpo," hashtags used casually in conversation, or pure passion for bleeding-edge tech and entrepreneurship?

And, for a set of characters that could, by all accounts, be completely unrelatable (unless you're a Rich Kid of Instagram), the teen trillionaires are charming and interesting. Sure, they have exotic pets and jet off to France for lunch, but a little bit of imaginative wish-fulfillment is both acceptable for the medium and appropriate to the premise of the book. Plus, they're future-minded and care about innovation; not entirely the worst way to prioritize their investments.

Ig Guara is off to an excellent start with character designs that fit in with the New 52 palette (Commodore's suit is sleek but structured, and has a Green-Lantern-meets-Cyborg feel to it) yet capture the book's own class warfare motif (the aforementioned suit is sophisticated and shiny, in contrast to Riot's homemade costumes).

The Bad

The book's premise (at least the one it's marketed under) begs for criticism, but it's so well executed that fault is hard to find. The threat posed by Riot is perhaps the only weak spot -- even with strength in numbers, a bunch of guys in handmade costumes with handguns aren't much of a match for high-powered tech and a private security team -- but they might be stronger than they appear. I am anxious to see more of the Green Team's superpowered tech; it's such a tease to reveal Commodore's suit and leave the rest of the team unarmed until at least issue #2.

The Verdict

Despite being presented as the less-sympathetic 1% to the underdog 99%ers of THE MOVEMENT, I found GREEN TEAM to be unabashedly fun. The teen trillionaires aren't flawless, but they're likable, and it's hard to hate a team of motivated kids who want to invest in innovation (especially when said innovation is clearly going to morph them into superheroes!). It's refreshingly light, it's culturally relevant, and it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Revival #10

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:24:00 -0700

The Good

REVIVAL #10 is the latest turn of the screw in a layered, complex story that gets deeper -- and creepier -- with each issue. It's not just walking dead with personalities anymore; there are demons, murderers, and religious zealots to contend with, and the story is truly starting to take shape. A healthy serving of small-town drama with a distinctly Midwestern flavor keeps the quietly terrifying story just on the edge of believable.

The gist, for those who haven't been reading: Tim Seeley and Mike Norton have created a different kind of zombie story; living dead who retain their personalities and intellects are an entirely distinct flavor of scary, especially in a genre saturated with hordes of mindless walkers. Ten issues in, we've come to learn that the real monsters may not be the recently-revived (though they've had their share of villainy in previous issues) but those whose hearts never stopped beating.

We don't learn a lot of new things in Issue #10, but tension definitely ratchets up a notch on several subplots. The Checks have crossed the line from organ-harvesters to kidnappers-maybe-murderers, Ibrahim is in a delicate situation (and by delicate, I mean a literal trap), we catch a glimpse of how the ghosts work, and even though we don't know what it is, we know something is going to happen with May. It's a solid set-up for the next issue, which closes out the second volume of the series -- there are a lot of loose ends and precarious situations.

The point-of-view shifts frequently, but there's a payoff in this -- events have more context, and the town feels more real when we get to spend time with more than just a few characters. It's more of a television conceit than something we're used to in comics, and I can't help but think that REVIVAL would be deliciously creepy on tv.

Jenny Frison delivers another gorgeous, macabre cover. I'm not sure how anyone can keep painting gory scenes that are so beautiful, but she's doing it.

The Bad

Although I'm enjoying the small reveals that come with each issue, I'm starting to feel a little bit stir-crazy (not unlike the quarantined residents of Wasau!) because of the ultra-deliberate pacing on the main arc. We still don't know much about the nature of the revivers, and I find myself feeling frustrated on behalf of the characters who are trying to sort things out. I'm hoping that Issue #11 will have big action, answers, or both.

The Verdict

REVIVAL has been a consistently clever stand-out in its genre, and each issue so far has been nuanced and character-driven. I'm invested in the bigger story, and although the pacing can be a bit frustrating, the many subplots (the organ black market, Martha's mystery killer, May's investigation, etc) are keeping things interesting. It's worth picking up in trade if you haven't been following along (Volume 2 wraps with the next issue!), and I've found it to be a nice "gateway book" to the horror genre.

Superior Spider-Man #10

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:21:00 -0700

The Good

Just when you think you know what Dan Slott is up to, he shakes things up. We've seen the growing struggle between the 'essence' of Peter Parker and Doc Ock taking place within Spider-Man's body. Peter had been getting closer and closer to gaining control. It now appears that the struggle has ended with the Superior Spider-Man the reigning champion.

Octavius continues to show how he feels he can be a better Spider-Man. There are things he's doing more efficiently but it's clear his arrogance will get the better of him. His new take on crimefighting, with a more violent nature, is starting to make some people suspicious. This all can be seen as a big science experiment. You would always hear those that craved a more violent Spider-Man and that is what we're getting. This may not be our Spider-Man but Dan Slott is taking the idea further and further. People have to understand there will be an inevitable downfall. Some of that is becoming apparent in this issue as well. There is just that feeling of not being sure what or when the next crazy event will take place.

There is also the fact that Slott is finally coming back to the Norman Osborn plot thread seen in the issues before the big battle between Spidey and Ock took place. No one has seemed to really notice Osborn's disappearance at the hospital and seeing the what happens here is raising the excitement level.

Ryan Stegman continues to do a superb job on the art. This issue isn't heavy on the action but there is plenty to see. Even just looking at the detail in the backgrounds is nice. When Spidey is in action, it is a little hard to look at due to his more violent approach but Stegman makes it all look so dang good.

The Bad

There's a tiny feeling that issue is just building up what's coming up next. That's not a bad thing but you can't help but want immediate action.

We are seeing more people notice Spider-Man's change in behavior. Except Otto doesn't seem concerned about this. Is it his arrogance taking over or is he just oblivious that changing Spider-Man's M.O. would arouse suspicion?

The Verdict

Otto Octavius may have won his recent battle against 'Peter Parker' but it looks like there's some big trouble brewing. Dan Slott continues to develop the direction Otto is taking Spider-Man and as hard as it is to think about, you can't help but want to see how it's all going to play out. You can see that Otto's arrogance will get the better of him. There's no way the battle with Peter is over. Ryan Stegman makes it all look so good. You'll find yourself pausing to look at everything in the panels. With the return of a certain Spider-Man threat, it's going to be great to see how prepared Otto will be. This may not be the Spider-Man you grew up with but, man oh man, there's just no telling what Slott is going to do next. That's what makes it all so interesting.

Deadpool #10

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:34:00 -0700

The Good

Call me crazy, but this is easily my favorite Deadpool issue in quite some time (apologies, Suicide Kings). It's relentlessly funny, is sporting phenomenal artwork and is massively entertaining. It doesn't take any major strides with the plot, but who really cares when everything going down is so ridiculously fun?

So many laughs were had while reading this one. So many. From the strip club being called "Amazing Fantasy" to the countless one-liners, I found myself grinning or laughing out loud with just about every page. Trapster's remark? The Dark Knight References? The Donald Trump parody? It's consistently sharp and without question one of the funniest books on the market right now. That said, DEADPOOL always manages to have one moment that's super lowbrow and makes you wonder for a moment if you should cringe at the raw immaturity or have a good laugh. In this case, let's just say it involves falling and... well, a remark about poo, and I settled on laughing like a fool at that one. Then there's Michael's situation. I don't even know what to make of that yet, but it's wildly amusing for now.

Speaking of Michael, I was relieved to see there was a legitimate reason behind Wade's drastic action in the last issue. It was obvious Wade wanted to send him to Hell to see if it could benefit them, but it's great to see it wasn't a totally random and dark decision he made in the moment and on his own. Also, did anyone else think the remark about "characters who sell their soul to the devil deserve to die" was a little jab at Peter Parker?

Mike Hawthorne + Val Staples = one terrific looking Deadpool book. It's a style that manages to deliver perfectly on both the comedic and serious moments the title has to offer. Deadpool's so lovable as you can see his silly grin under his mask and the entire issue just has a very fluid and animated feel to it. But when matters get dark, Hawthorne proves he's more than capable of delivering a stunning and badass version of Deadpool. I'm seriously impressed with the visuals in this one.

Oh, and no joke, I think I'm quite possibly the only person who cheered when Chance appeared. He's such an obscure character and, despite popular belief, he's actually a little bit of a boss. That said, he's been reduced to jobber status over his last few appearances, so it's understandable he's treated as a total chump when trying to take on both Spider-Man and Deadpool.

The Bad

I'm probably one of the very few people out there who will be slightly disappointed by Taskmaster and Batroc's handling. I suppose it's cool for Taskmaster to be a bit pathetic since Wade has often served as his kryptonite, though it would have been neat to see Tasky fight Superior for longer. Despite being the victim of many jokes, Batroc's a dude with some serious skill -- he's given Steve Rogers excellent fights. While part of me is letdown with how Batroc's handled, I'd be a total liar if I said the rest of me wasn't saying, "YEAH! DEADPOOL'S SHOWING OFF HOW GOOD HE IS!" Yes, I've been craving more skill feats from Wade, but I also wish it didn't come at the expense of another character. Wade's interacting with the likes of Captain America, Wolverine and Daredevil in the future, so my fingers are crossed he'll have a superb battle with at least one of them!

I'm also left wondering about the organs plot, but I'm perfectly fine with writers Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn holding off on that element because what's currently going on is such a good time!

The Verdict

In case you couldn't tell by now, I freaking LOVED this issue. It doesn't move the plot forward all that much, but it's a virtually flawless piece of popcorn entertainment. It delivers and then some when it comes to the art, ginormous laughs and cheer-worthy action. I spent $2.99 for a digital copy of this issue on ComiXology and you bet I am absolutely going to spend another $2.99 to get a physical copy.

Justice League #20

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:27:00 -0700

The Good

I've mentioned it before, we are seeing the next chapter of JUSTICE LEAGUE. Now that the team is established and we have an idea where they stand with each other and the world in general, they've decided to open their ranks. This comes at the best and worst time. With other problems to deal with, we've seen Batman's secret Batcave in the Batcave get infiltrated which lead to someone stealing the Kryptonite Ring and giving it to Despero.

The attack on the Watchtower allows us to see the new recruits in action. Can they act as a team? Can they survive against Despero? The issue also delivers more on the team's past, including the temporary membership of another certain character along with more on who the traitor is, or at least one of the traitors.

The action gets pretty crazy and is spread over different locations. We're definitely moving towards a different direction as you get the feeling some dark times are coming up for the team.

We are also nearing the end of Billy Batson and Black Adam's story in the back up by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. You might think you know the whole story on them but you'll find some interesting developments.

We also find out Big Belly Burgers still exists in the New 52.

The Bad

Even though the action is heating up, there's a couple minor points that are questionable. Besides the motive behind Despero's attack (more so in who helped him), it's a little unclear why no one was at the Watchtower to meet the new recruits for their 'induction ceremony.' Batman might be busy with Cyborg in talking to Superman and Wonder Woman but you would think they wouldn't want the new recruits up there alone this early in their membership. And where was Aquaman during most of this time?

The art gets a little inconsistent at times. Zander Cannon does the layouts but we also have Gene Ha, Andres Guinaldo and Joe Prado doing the pencils. That's what adds to the feeling.

There's no way Element Woman's $54.82 order at Big Belly Burger (including nine shakes) would fit in two bags.

The Verdict

Geoff Johns is evolving the JUSTICE LEAGUE comic. We're seeing new members, secrets, attacks and developments among the members. While there was something about seeing the core seven members keep a tight nit group, we now have more opportunities that can be fleshed out. The main problem is there were moments the art felt inconsistent. We had a few different pencilers so that adds to the art being a little hectic. We're approaching the end of the Billy Batson/Shazam! story which is great but also sad (that it's coming to an end). You will want to see the revelations that come out of this issue. You can feel Johns has big plans for the title and they are just beginning.

Judge Dredd #7

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:02:00 -0700

The Good

Dredd escapes the robotic revolution and the rest of the judges get a bit of justice. Dredd finally realizes what's going on with the clone problem.

Up until now, JUDGE DREDD has been a phenomenal series that set a high bar for Dredd. Writer Duane Swierczyski has done a wonderful job at bringing this character and the world he inhabits to a new American audience. He still continues to build on the world here by introducing the audience to little technological innovations like a tube that simulates a full night of sleep in only ten minutes, for that Judge on-the-go. We also get to see a laser fence that strips the flesh of of the bones of anyone that passes through it.

Nelson Daniel's art, as it is with every issue, is the highlight of this book. Don't get me wrong, what Swierczyski is doing is awesome, but if I had to chose between the writing and the art, I'd cry for a while, then choose Daniel's art. His style is fun and bold, which is a perfect match to the writing. I love the way the onomatopoeias envelop the panels. They become part of the action and have their own life to them in each scene.

The Bad

Well, here we are, at the first bump in the series. We've been caught up in this Dredd vs the robot uprising for three issues now. The book is extremely focused on that. That story wraps up and jumps right back into the story from issues 3 and 4. It threw me completely off, and I had completely forgotten about the specifics of the issue. So while Dredd comes to this amazing realization about what's really going on, as a reader, it's not that stunning or interesting because it's something I thought we moved on from months ago.

This is probably my least favorite of the back up stories I've read. The story really didn't grab me, and Jimbo Salgado's art felt a bit foreign for this series. This

The Verdict

The issue was a bit of a disappointment for me. The JUDGE DREDD series has been on quite the roll, and while I enjoyed the overall issue, I felt it was a tad disjointed and trying to hard to jump back to an unresolved story that happening in issue 3. It was something I didn't really remember and I needed a refresher. However, Swierczyski's writing is solid. I like his dialogue and overall tone in the issue and I love Daniel's art. This is a great creative team.

I'm hoping that the issue hasn't hit it's slumped or already peaked. It's too soon to say, and it's only one ok issue. I still think this is a book you should have on your pull list because overall, this is one of my favorite on-going series. Hopefully, it gets better with the next issue.

Overall, I mildly recommend this issue.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #20

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:00 -0700

The Good

I have loved Tony Bedard’s run on this book. Kyle Rayner is such an interesting idea for a Green Lantern and sure, he’s got the willpower, but he’s also got a boundless imagination that makes him a force to be reckoned with. That ability has been downplayed somewhat since becoming the White Lantern, but it’s been interesting to see the character taken in a drastically different direction, but I’m ready to see the old fast-talking, goofy construct-making Rayner make a return. There are some shades of that in this issue, as Kyle creates a giant firefighter construct to put out a rampaging blaze as he and Saint Walker reminisce and tour Earth. Bedard really lets us know how hard the last few weeks (months?) have been on the two Lanterns and just seeing them getting some downtime is something of a relief. It would’ve been interesting to see how Kyle would have reacted to this alone because the dialog plays almost like narration in the context that it’s presented, but it’s good to have a character as strange as Walker. He’s had a fantastic “outsider’s perspective” on so many of the events in Kyle’s life.

Andres Guinaldo, Raul Fenandez and Wil Quintana handle pencils, inks and colors respectively with Dave Sharpe on lettering and it’s a great looking issue. Kyle and Walker’s journey takes them all over Earth with a few windows beyond and the artists are always up to the task of illustrating each, individual place as an individual place. It’s always great to see a book that uses almost no “filler” backgrounds, but always has something going on. Sci-fi books can be tricky to draw as too little definition leaves the art muddy and indistinct, but too much makes things appear too rigid and not fantastical enough, but there’s just the right balance here to be visually interesting. The characters are all well-defined, but the constructs and powers are a bit murkier and that feels right. There are also several portraits in the first few pages that look great and I’m always impressed by art within art that looks distinct enough to not blend into the background.

The Bad

As great as it is that the book really indulges in getting a bit whimsical and the book doesn’t really have a direction. Something major happens at the end, and it’s left very open-ended for Justin Jordan to take over, but the entire thing feels like more of an exercise in telling us “Here’s everything Kyle’s learnt and here’s how he’s changed as a person” rather than genuinely feeling like two old friends (or at least war buddies) finally relaxing after too long being gone. That part could have been done better, and it looks like it’s going to go down the list and show how Kyle’s mastery over the spectrum has changed, but it really only illustrates him using his powers in a novel way once or twice. I enjoyed seeing the two get some downtime and just chat, but this feels especially aimless and meandering.. I almost wish it had just been a conversation between the two rather than having them tour the Earth solving random problems as they went. I get that they’re trying to show Rayner’s innate nobility and compassion, but since his conversation has little to do with what he’s engaged with, he winds up coming off as detached and going through the motions. It's been fun watching the character interact with the rest of the Corps through these cross-overs, but I wonder what the book, and more importantly the characters, would have looked like if it had stuck to its own tales.

The Verdict

This is still a good book and well worth reading, particularly for fans of the character and the series in general, but it rang just a little too hollow in the end to fully recommend to without reservation. Still, this creative team has been great to read, and they leave plenty for the next team to either pick up or ignore as they see fit and at it’s best it gave us some truly memorable and unique moments with a character I love.

Scarlet Spider #17

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:54:00 -0700

The Good

SCARLET SPIDER, I think I'm in love with you. This issue's essentially an overload of fun. From the way the Assassin's reach out to Kaine to the jaw-droppingly awesome conclusion, this issue never fails to entertain.

The first thing you'll probably notice is a new direction for the art -- and it's a damn good direction! With Carlo Barberi on pencils and Rex Lokus on colors, this is the best looking issue of Kaine's solo in quite some time. It's vibrant, detailed and animated, drawing strong parallels to the book's earlier and stunning visuals provided by Ryan Stegman. Everything from stabs and the reactions they produce to Kaine's costume is a real eye-pleaser.

Covers are notorious for being misleading, but this one delivers on the promise of Wolverine vs. Scarlet Spider. The fight is a bit short and sure to upset some Wolverine fans, but I thought it was really cool and a total blast. It definitely gave credit to Wolverine's durability and his speed. Even though Kaine is clearly stronger and faster, putting Logan down is no easy chore and he's almost taken out of the game after Wolverine throws his very first strike.

Prior to this good time, Scarlet Spider also goes head-to-head with two original members of the X-Men and it's a real joy to read. The attacks are every bit as amusing as the banter and it's clear writer Christopher Yost has a good grasp on these characters, even if one of them is sold a little short. Just like many other chapters in this series, Yost manages to keep the entire issue hugely entertaining. When there isn't a brawl, odds are you're smirking at the dialogue, Kaine's aggressive mentality or Aracely's passion over the mission ("My super hero name is Hummingbird."). It's an impressive issue from start to finish and no scene feels like a waste of space.

The Bad

If Kaine has a file on Wolverine, how does he seem relatively surprised when his punches aren't enough to keep Logan down for the count? That must be one sloppy file if it doesn't detail his high tolerance to blunt damage and accelerated healing factor. Wolverine's been in more than enough public brawls for the world to know the basics of his abilities and shady organizations to know even more. Regardless, it's a really minor critique.

The Verdict

This is what SCARLET SPIDER is all about, friends. It's packed with brutal action, solid writing, terrific visuals and always manages to take a dark turn. I was really curious to see how Kaine's relationship would be handled, but in the meantime, I'm more than happy to have Yost put that on the back burner because this latest mission is pure bliss.