Fanboys Strike Back Weekly Review Podcast

Episode 65

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:03:00 -0800

Happy 2010! This week we do some recaps and discuss the big two comic book events underway, Marvel's Siege and DC's Blackest Night. We also weigh in on the Spider-man 4 news and reboot and finish off with our review of James Cameron's Avatar, does is live up to all of the hype?

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Kyle Rayner, the Last of the Green Lanterns

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:54:00 -0800

This week saw the passing of a comic character very near to me and I imagine most comic readers from the 1990s. Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern was the latest casualty of the Blackest Night event that began earlier this year. Now, he may come back eventually, most comic characters do, but lets take a moment to reflect on the overall impact of a character who held the torch for the Green Lantern franchise for almost a decade on his own.

As a young reader, I never fully identified with Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) as he was written in the late 80s and early 90s. Most of the brash, hotshot personality that Hal was known for had given way to fairly cheesy characterization. I was not heartbroken when the decision to send Hal on his way and bring in some new blood was made in Green Lantern editorial. As Kyle was introduced in the Emerald Twilight story and issues that followed, it was clear that an effort was being made to really separate Kyle from his predecessors. The GL writers showed that Kyle was not a perfect character from the get-go and had to spend time learning not only how to wield his newfound power but also learn what that responsibility really meant. He was very much like an early version of spider-man, at first thrilled by his new abilities but quickly learning that not only his but his loved ones lives were now on the line because of his decisions and actions. Kyle also differed from other Green Lanterns in how he would create and use his ring (which manifests anything he can think of). Being an artist, Kyle's mind was fertile ground to explore the full potential of creating constructs from light, much like a 3D painter. Lastly, Kyle was burdened in a way no other Green Lantern had been before. He was the last soldier in an army which no longer existed. The years of training and experience which had been passed on to his predecessors would not be available to him.

Over the years I continued to follow Kyle's integration in his surrounding universe, from his inclusion into the Justice League, to his personal relationships with fellow heros and various girlfriends. Kyle, a romantic at heart, was continually on the receiving end of bad breakups which seemed to become a trend for him. Kyle's book also became a place where social issues came to the forefront which some readers may have complained about at the time but I felt added a relevance and maturity to the title.

As I stated earlier, most comic characters never stay gone forever and after years of Kyle headlining the Green Lantern title, the decision to bring Hal Jordan back to the forefront was made. Kyle's adventures would continue in the Green Lantern Corps. book which also followed the resurrected Green Lantern army. For a character who traditionally had stood out for being the last of his kind, Kyle's importance in his new role as part of the corps was his conscience. Doing his best to question the blind orders for which he disagreed with and proving has valor as a member of the GL Honor Guard, Kyle continued to thrive while having been put in a more supportive capacity rather than the spotlighting role he had previously had.

This week saw his sacrifice and passing in an effort to protect his fellow soldiers. For myself and many people who grew up following his adventures, the Green Lantern Corps will never be the same.

Episode 64- Roll Call!!

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 2 Oct 2009 20:28:00 -0700

This week we give our reviews of Spider-Woman #1, Amazing Spider-Man #606, Dark X-Men: The Confession #1 and more. We also round out the show by going through each member of James Robinson's new JLA team and give our thoughts on who makes the cut.

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Episode 63 Black Lanterns Are Mean

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:42:00 -0700

Well we're back from our hiatus and this week we get together to discuss the books from last week as well as our quick thoughts of the events and reboots going on in the comic world. Come listen to our thoughts on Dark Reign, Batman Reborn, X-Men Utopia, The Blackest Night and more.( The audio is little off at times, but hey something is better than nothing!!!)

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Episode 62

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:56:00 -0700

This week we go head to head with Battle for the Cowl: The Network #1 and Superman: World of New Krypton #3. We also review Flash: Rebirth #2, Cable #14, and more. We discuss last week's Legion of Three Worlds #4 and why it may have given David renewed hope of the DC universe and finish off the show with the top 5 things that we were able to get our hands on at this years Emerald City Comic-Con

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Episode 60

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:58:00 -0700

We've had this one in the can for a few weeks but after some uploading issues we're back and ready to go. This week we go head to head with Battle of the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon and Ultimatum #3. We also discuss, New Avengers #51, Oracle #1, X-Force/Cable Messiah War Prelude and more. We finish off the show with our top five things we're looking forward to at this year's Emerald City Comic-Con.

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Episode 59

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0700

This week we go head to head with Daredevil #116 and Batman:Cacophony #3. We also give you our reviews of War of Kings #1, New Avengers: The Reunion #1, and more. We finish off the show with our review of Street Fighter 4 and a little movie based on a graphic novel called The Watchmen.

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Episode 58

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:41:00 -0800

This week we go head to head with X-Infernus #3 and Nightwing #153, the final issue! We also review Green Lantern Corps #33, Batman #686, Thor #600 and more. We finish off the show by discussing the shocking and exciting end of last week's Legion of Three Worlds #3 and talk about the announcements made at the New York Comic-Con

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Episode 57

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 4 Feb 2009 22:41:00 -0800

This week we go head to head with Daredevil #115 and Superman #684. We also review Ultimate Spider-man #130, JSA #23, New Avengers #49 and more. We finish off the show with our review of Final Crisis #7 and how we fill about the whole series now that it's ended and touch on what events we're excited about this coming year.

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Episode 56

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:29:00 -0800

We're back with a new year and some new comics. We go head to head with X-Men: Legacy #220 and Robin #182 and review Dark Avengers #1, Green Lantern #37, Deathstroke #1 and more. We finish off the show with our final thoughts on volume 3 of Heroes and discuss the ramifications of Final Crisis #6.

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Episode 55

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:10:00 -0800

We had some problems uploading this episode but better late than never. We go head to head with X-Infernus #1 and Batman #682. We also review the end of secret Invasion with the release of Secret Invasion #8, did all the years of planning pay off or was the series a disappointment. We finish off the show with some quick looks at JSA #21, New Avengers #47 and more.

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Episode 54

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sun, 7 Dec 2008 19:16:00 -0800

This week we went head to head with Daredevil #113 and Batman #681, the final issue in the R.I.P storyline. Did it live up to Eric's expectations? We also review JSA: The Kingdom Special, Ultimate Spider-man #128, Superman #682 and more.

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Episode 53

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:54:00 -0800

We're back from another little break, life's been a little bit bust lately. Eric and I go head to head with a couple of books from last week, Terra #1 and the first issue of Ultimatum. We then give you our reviews of some of the books from this past week including Wolverine, Green Lantern Corps, JSA Kingdom Come Superman Special and more. We finish off the show with some DC comic news covering Batman R.I.P and the cancellation of the bat-family titles and the rumor that DC has decided to change the ending of Final Crisis.

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Episode 52

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:26:00 -0700

This week we go Head to Head with Daredevil #112 and Final Crisis: Submit #1. We also review Secret Invasion #7, Final Crisis #4, Superman: New Krypton Special and more. We finish off the show with our review of the new Star Wars Clone Wars TV show. We thought the movie was lukewarm, is the series any better?

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Episode 51

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:24:00 -0700

This week We trade off books with Robin #179 and Uncanny X-Men #503, we also discuss Amazing Spider-Man #573, The end of Ultimate Origins #5, JSA #19, Final Crisis Rogues' Revenge #3 and more. We finish off the show with our review of the latest episode of Heroes- Angels & Monsters

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Episode 50- The Fanboys Unleashed

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:26:00 -0700

It's our 50th episode and time to change up the show a little bit. You'll hear about our new format as we discuss the books of the week including Detective Comics, Secret Invasion: Inhumans, Green Lantern, Action Comics and more. We run down what we've thought of Heroes Season 3 so far and finish off the show with our reviews of the Wii and PS3 version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

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Who watches the Watchmen? Guest writer Kate

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:53:00 -0700

While Watchmen has always meant something big for us comic readers, its quickly on its way to rising up and becoming a true cultural phenomenon beyond graphic novels. Word of mouth is quickly spreading and the book is being found in retailers one generally wouldn't expect (even at Urban Outfitters!). My point is that interest in the story is expanding beyond the typical comic book audience and my friend and fellow blogger Kate has recently undertaken the task of reading Alan Moore's greatest work. She's been kind enough to write up her thoughts for us below;

In the interest of full disclosure, until I picked up Watchmen I had never read a graphic novel. My experience with the genre was contained to movies and the seemingly incoherent ramblings of my geeky friends. But I nearly gave Eric a heart attack when I asked him if I could borrow what is considered the greatest graphic novel of all time. And then he added to the pressure by asking me to blog about the experience of my first graphic novel.

I quickly found out that it was longer and much more complicated that I had ever anticipated - a novel as layered and engaging as anything I ever got handed in AP English. What struck me especially, were the questions of morality from a genre that I have long understood lived in a black and white world.

So when I finally did turn the last page of this work I was left pondering one of life’s BIG questions. Does the end justify the means? Especially in this modern era when the end is murky at best. Now this is a question that has been and will be continued to be debated by philosophers, novices and apparently by people who dress up and fight crime.

In an almost post President George W. Bush world, these questions take on a new and interesting layer. And certainly violence in New York is seen in a different light post 9/11. But didn’t Bush, Cheney & Co. use a horrific tragedy to unite a country (and most of the world) behind one common cause? Didn’t they use it to divert our attention to the problems that they wanted to solve? I’m not suggesting that 9/11 was a huge conspiracy perpetrated by the President but certainly it was used in an exploitive fashion.

And we know now what happens when the plot to deceive is exposed, alliances fall apart, the peace and unity created is fleeting and the President has the one lowest approval ratings in history. And the tentative end of Watchmen suggests that their created peace, may also, in fact, be fleeting at best. It’s left of a copy boy in a newspaper office.

And what about those who go along with the plot? Are they simply doing what’s best for humanity? Or are the accomplices in the most disgusting propaganda campaign that includes murder? Considering that The Night Owl and Silk Specter seem to get their happily ever after, the former seems to the case. And poor Rorschach – betrayed in probably the worst way possible. There is no way that he could even see this as a grey area. He could not live in a world post this horrific event.

I was struck by a graphic novel that was written in the mid 80s could smack so smartly with current events.

The plot kept me guessing the whole way through, which as an avid consumer of pop culture is hard to do. I can usually spot the ending about 5 miles away and have to sit patiently as everyone else catches up. But in the end I was surprised.

I’m left thinking about many things. What would I have done? Would I have stood by and let thousands die in order to bring peace to the world, however fragile?

But the real question is, will I read another graphic novel? Well, when you start at the top, there is only one place to go. But I’m open for suggestions….

Kate currently co-runs the blog giif-giif.blogspot.com where you can find her musings on a variety of topics and is also an avid trivia player. Please feel free to leave suggestions for future books other than the typical fare or respond regarding your thoughts on Watchmen. Thanks Kate!

Book of the Week 10/1/08 Cable #7

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 22:51:00 -0700

Written by Duane Swiercynski
Art by Areil Olivetti
Letters by Joe Caramagna

OK so Cable #7 was the best book that I read this week.......but not to disrespect the book but it was down to either this or Trinity.

That being said, this book.....not too bad.

While the first 5 issues of Cable took us on a dragged out story of Nathan running from Bishop, issue 6 with Cyclops seems to have changed the direction of the book, something that it desperately needed. I wasn't aware of how much had changed until I picked up this issue and was surprised to see a red headed toddler running around.

Yes Cable is further into the future and the Messiah baby, is no longer a baby. Bishop went back to the present and had some scheme to take down Cable from there but was captured by X-Force and taken to Cyclops for questioning. Upon testing, Hank finds out that Bishop has actually been gone for 4 and a half years so it looks like the messiah baby should be around 5 years old.

More characters is what this book sorely needs and had the book been like this issue all along, I would have been more sympathetic to the series as a whole. I still think the biggest weight holding this book down is the art. Swiercynski's art isn't bad by any means but it also isn't good. One of the reason's that everyone seems to hate Cable is because they think of him and they see this huge bulking character with guns and...it's just too much. Cable doesn't need t more realistic artist but Swiercynski is just a bad fit, this book needs an artist that can tone it done a little and not make the characters look so stiff.

All in all I'm happier with this book now than I've ever been. This was a very slow week for books but I'm happy to see this story progressing and it was very obvious that Cable and this baby will be back with the X-men fairly shortly and that can't happen soon enough.

Episode 49- Titans #5

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:10:00 -0700

Eric picked Titans #5 as the best book he read this week because the character interactions were great and the art was pretty good for a change. We also discuss Robin, Uncanny X-Men, Young X-men, Secret Invasion, Hellblazer and more

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Book of the Week 9/17/08 Titans #5

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:47:00 -0700

Written by Judd Winick
Pencils by Julian Lopez
Colors by Edgar Delgado
Letters by Rob Clark Jr.

It's no secret that I love every character that inhabits this book. So far though I've found Titans to be lackluster. The characters haven't really had a chance to settle in to the team, being too busy fighting demon spawn and being possessed. This issue however finally let everyone take a breather and deal with being a team again with this group that has so much history together. In short, personal moments abound! Gar and Ravens soul bearing discussion paid respect to Titans history while setting up the next direction for Raven. I've enjoyed watching these two get closer since they've come back into each others lives. It makes complete sense that these people who have such a history would develop feelings for eachother. And speaking of relationships, revisiting Dick and Kory's past was the scene stealer for me. Despite being set in pool allowing some cheesecake art, the conversation between the two is somewhat heart wrenching. When Kory asks Dick if he loves her, and his single strained answer was "no", my heart sank a bit. These two are the lovers who will never truly work and anyone who has ever been in that situation will feel something in this scene.

Judd Winick does a great job with the smaller scenes in this book. This issue spotlighted how well he writes smaller moments. That's not to say he can't do action but few do character development like Judd. Winick, like Johns, does well telling a new story while tying in the Titans rich history. These are characters that have known eachother for years yet haven't spent much time together in the last several. Come to think of it, this book reads like an action heavy high school reunion and I love that since I've been able to see these people grow up.

I really hope Lopez stays on this book. The art is a drastic improvement from the last several issues. The only thing I don't understand is the overabundance in this title of putting characters in revealing outfits (not just the costumes). It seems like they got an editorial comment to make it happen in every issue. Anyways, its still a big improvement from what we've had.

This book stood out as a "most improved player" book this month. I love this team and I want to see them do well. It seems like Winick has finally found his stride and I hope the momentum is maintained.

Episode 48- Detective Comics #848

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:42:00 -0700

Eric picked Detective Comics #848 as the best book he read this week because it wasn't directly tied in to Batman R.I.P, yet was really good. We also take a look at X-Men: Manifest Destiny#1, Spider-Man loves Mary Jane #2, Trinity #15 and more. We finish off the show by discuss Warner Bros. new idea of making more DC movies but making them all dark, even Superman!

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Book of the Week 9/10/08 Ultimate Origins #4

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:46:00 -0700

Written by Brian Michael bendis
Art by Butch guise
Colors by Justin Ponsor
Letters by Cory Petiit

Wow this was a very pleasant surprise.

I've been reading Ultimate Origins since the beginning and I've been been enjoying it but it's never jumped out at me. I guess I find myself looking at it and scratching my head. I love the origin story and the creepy towers and how everything is connected but I think what's kept me from loving this story is that it's setting up Ultimatum, an event that I'm not looking forward and I think that's affecting the way I see this book.

All that aside, this issue was so good that I just went with it straight from the beginning. When we were at the Emerald City Con last year, at a Q & A Bendis said there were a lot of plans for Nick Fury and that we would finally get a Nick fury origin story. In the last issue we were given a glimpse but we got a lot more Fury in this issue and that's never a bad thing.

Ultimate Origins was advertised with the idea that so many things and people in the Ultimate universe were connected without knowing it and I was a little hesitant by that idea but things really came together in this issue and I just absolutely loved it.

We find out what motivates Nick Fury, how Peter's parents died and more and the issue ended with the reveal of the Ultimate Watcher and I knew, hands down, at that point that this was the book of the week.

Episode 47- New Avengers #44

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:33:00 -0700

We had some technical difficulties so this episode is a little late but still here! Eric picked New Avengers #44 as the best book that he read and not for the reasons that you may think. We also discuss the end of Teen Titans Year One, JSA, X-Men Legacy, DCU: The Last Will & Testament and more.

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Book of the Week 9/4/08 Detective Comics #848

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 18:39:00 -0700

Written by Paul Dini
Pencils by Dustin Nguyen
Inks by Derek Fridolfs
Colors by John Kalisz

The older I get, the more forgiving I'm getting about continuity issues. I tend to try and make my own continuity in my head, its the only way to make things work sometimes. It also helps me get past small glitches in timelines and just enjoy the story being told. As soon as I stopped trying to make Paul Dini's "Heart of Hush" story work within the confines of RIP and just let it run on its own steam, it really became a great Batman story.

Paul Dini's writing on DC has always been great and a little reminiscent of the old animated series. However, with stories such as the Joker/Zatanna arc along with the current Hush story, the tone of the book has become seemingly darker. Detective Comics now closely resembles the old Shadow of the Bat title of the 90s (which was one of my favorites). Dini has done a wonderful job of taking Hush into an even scarier realm than explored in the Jeph Loeb storyline, really turning Thomas Elliot into the mad surgeon. We've also been given more glimpses into his childhood and life at home. While not terribly original, it does provide more substance for the character. The addition of Selina Kyle is always welcome in this title as well. Selina's reaction as she saw Hushs face shows that Dini still has a few surprises up his sleeve.

Nguyen's art is outstanding. I love his stylized approach to the characters. There's a simplicity that when combined with Fridolfs' inks, the visuals become almost eerie and frightening. This is the Batman that I remember as a kid.

It's been a good year to be a Batman fan and while Morrison is pushing the boundaries of weird in the main title, it's been great to have Dini write a proper, scary sendoff for Bruce Wayne.

Book of the Week 8/27/08 New Avengers #44

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:00:00 -0700

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Billy Tan
Inks by Matt Banning
Colors by Justin Ponsor

Richaaaarrrrdddsss!!!! To be fair it's not really his fault...and it kinda is. Of course I refer to what I've just read in New Avengers #44. Turns out those pesky Skrulls really cooked up something devious to overcompensate for their lack of imagination and overall smarts. I loved this story for several reasons but I was shocked at the sheer brutality of the Skrull's research. While disappointed by the Illuminati appearance, it was cool to see them together again. I also found myself laughing at the Skrull's seeming lack of any subtly regarding anytime they end an experiment. Instead of hitting a switch or something, it's set blasters to kill! Oh those silly Skrulls!

I've been enjoying these back stories slightly better than the main title and that's not to say the whole of Secret Invasion hasn't been enjoyable. It's just been alot of fun finding out what we haven't been seeing over the last several years. Bendis has also done a great job of making me like Reed Richards who was a character I've never found particularly interesting especially after his actions during the civil war. Overall, the reveal of how the Skrull's were finally able to become successful was a great twist and really shows how integral Richards is to the Skrull's relationship with the rest of the Marvel U.

Tan's art is mainly good with the exception of a few panels where faces look a little melty. Tan does however push the brutality factor and helps convey just how much most of the Skrulls hate humanity. This is juxtaposed with very touching moments such as the scene between Reed and Franklin which would be quite touching under normal circumstances.

Overall, New Avengers continues to be the showcase for the best of the Secret Invasion action. With major reveals in almost every issue, it's great that Bendis is finally letting us in on things that have been playing out in his head over the last few years.

Book of the Week 8/20/08 Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:15:00 -0700

Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils by George Perez
Inks by Scott Koblish
Colors by Hi-Fi
Letters by Adam Schlagman

Yes you're reading this correctly, I picked a Legion book as the best thing that I read this week.

There are some creators that you will follow even if they're doing something out of your comfort zone and Geoff Johns proved to me with this issue that he is surely a creator that I will always follow. I've never really liked the Legion, I always thought the whole time traveling thing was really confusing, plus there's so many members, it's just a lot to keep track of but it worked great here.

The wonderful surprise about this issue is that it was equally a Superboy Prime book as it was a Legion book and I think thats' why it was far more accessible to a reader such as myself. Johns has always said how he loves writing the character and it shows. Prime is such an arrogant little brat that I would normally hate him as a character but to see a Superman family character acting like that is kind of a nice change. I really liked the twist at the end of the issue and I'm excited to see where this is going to go.

I've never been a huge fan of George perez's art. I've been a fan but I just never read a lot of his older stuff so I while I probably didn't freak out about the art as the average DC fanboy would, I really loved it. It was bright and classic, straightforward and just heroic art, I really dug it.

So there it is. I liked a Legion book.(I actually loved this book) and I'm interested to see what other people think. One thing to mention is that they were dropping the name Superboy left and right and I thought they weren't allowed to do that anymore? Huh.

Episode 46- Action Comics #868

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:44:00 -0700

Eric picked Action Comics #868 as the best book he read this week because it finally felt like something noticeable is going on in the Superman Universe. We also discuss Fantastic Four #559, Secret Invasion #5, Booster Gold #11 and more. We finish off the show with our review of Star Wars The Clone Wars. Did we think this was worth releasing in the theaters? Listen and find out!

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Book of the Week 8/13/08 Action Comics #868

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:27:00 -0700

Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils by Gary Frank
Inks by Jon Sibal
Colors by Brad Anderson

Look to the sky...

I, like many others out there, have always preferred other icons such as Batman over Superman. I always felt that Superman wasn't totally relatable. That's not to say I didn't believe in Superman as an icon and inspiration. I just felt that writers tended to tell better stories with other characters. With the exception of a few trades and story arcs (Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow) I just couldn't find an ongoing series that I felt did service to Big Blue. Kingdom Come, New Frontier, and the JLA seemed to be where Superman belonged, among the company of other brightly clad demigods, not on his own handling a man who played with large toys and an imp with the voice of Gilbert Gottfried (points for those in the know). I'm happy to admit that I have finally been proven wrong.

We live in a Superman renaissance right now with Action Comics and Superman getting major attention and overhauls. Geoff Johns has, like he's done for so many other titles, made Superman relevant to his own world. It's redundant to go on about boiling Superman down to his roots or how Johns has a knack for bringing a magic to the characters he writes so I won't go on and on about it. We all know it. What I personally like about our recent version of Supes is he's brimming with personality. When he's written in stories like Kingdom Come, while I look up to him, I'm also a little wary of him. In this book, the comment I made earlier about relatability goes out the window (other than the alien stuff). His interactions and motivations are clearly displayed and fit much better than what I've seen before.

Another key to a good Superman story is a good villain. Other than Lex Luthor, Brainiac has always been a very threatening presence in these books. In Action Comics, he's down right chilling. As we now know, we've never truly seen the real Brainiac until today. While his ship reeked of the matrix, the idea of what our villain does is terrifying. Also, we now have a Brainiac that isn't destroyed with a few super punches. HE'S A BIG SCARY DUDE! The hint at his hand in the destruction of Krypton left with an "OHHHH S***" moment.

Gary Franks art is perfect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it! I have gravitated more and more towards realistic art as I've grown older with one of my favorite artists being Rags Morales. Frank comes from the same school in that his characters are realistically proportioned and where real clothes, not garments applied by spray-paint. This is very apparent in the way Kara is depicted in this issue. Standing next to Cat, its nice to see Kara not displayed as over developed jail bait. Also, Brainiac is terrifying. The cold, dead gaze in his eyes makes me almost hear a monotone dead voice emanating from him. The site of his ship showing up over Metropolis sent chills down my spine and I was left with the same emotion as the rest of the citizens, wondering "where's Superman?"

I haven't bought a Superman monthly since the early 90s and I'm so happy to have the most iconic hero finally get the respect he deserves in the title that started all of this. "They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you… my only son. " Go get em big guy!

Episode 45- Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:48:00 -0700

I chose Spider-man Loves Mary Jane as the best thing that I read this week because it was just a breath of fresh air with all these other serious comics around. Eric gives his R.I.P. updates with reviews of Robin, Nightwing, Dectective comics and more. We finish off the show with our thoughts of the new DC games, Mortal Kombat vs DC and DC Universe online.

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Book of the Week 8/6/08 Spider-man Loves Mary Jane #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 7 Aug 2008 01:13:00 -0700

Written by Terry Moore
Art by Craig Rousseau
Colors by Guilliem Mari
Letters by Dave Sharpe

Now this was a treat

I've heard good things about the Spider-man loves Mary jane book but just haven't taken the time to check it out. I've really been trying to pick up new things lately and when I saw that Terry Moore was writing this issue I just had to pick it up and I'm really glad that I did.

This book take place out of continuity and it just a fun look at the Midtown high gang and the high-jinks that they get up to. I've referred to Saved By The Bell various times in the podcast and that's what this book felt like, it was just a little teen drama with our familiar Spider-man characters and I loved it. Everyone's involved and it's great to see things from Mary jane's point of view. He doesn't like Gwen because she's insecure about who Gwen is and when Peter comes around, you can just tell her heart's a flutterin'

One thing that I really loved about this book is that Peter Parker is truly a nerd. Moore makes the statement that Peter is taking all IB classes which is something that Peter would be involved in and more importantly Craig Rousseau truly draws Peter as a short, skinny, frail looking boy and I cannot remember the last time he was presented that way.

I've heard a lot of positive things about Terry Moore so I was looking forward to picking this up and I was impressed. I don't plan on reading Strangers in Paradise(just doesn't seem like my kind of book) but I hope he plans to stay on this title and after this issue I am definitely adding this to my box.

With so much going on in this week like time bullets and Skrulls, a crazy Batman and Hulk fighting the god of thunder, this was just a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Episode 44- Northlanders:Sven the Returned #8

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 5 Aug 2008 18:22:00 -0700

Eric chose Northlanders#8 as the book of the week because it's a story that he followed from start to finish and it paid off. We also discuss JSA Annual, Green Lantern, Thor, Wolverine and more. We finish the show out with an in depth look at Y:the last man and a review of Soul Calibur 4.

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Book of the Week 7/30/08 Northlanders Sven the Returned #8

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:05:00 -0700

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Davide Gianfelice
Letters by Travis Lanham

After reading the conclusion to Brian Wood's epic viking tale this week I thought it was very different from what I've read from him before (mainly stories within DEMO). The main character of Sven was introduced in this story as a gigantic asshole who was mainly out for what he felt was owed to him. Svens story follows many standard beats of the hero's journey. Through Svens trials he has become a more rounded and mature character. What I enjoyed though was how Sven always felt like an outsider amongst his own people. While his travels early in life left him separated since he'd seen more civilized portions of the world, he'd rejected the world he was born into. Now with the finale of the story, we see that Sven has matured to the point of caring for his people however still rejecting their ways. In the end, his decisions reflect this in both his born duties and his heart.

While good, the series had some odd writing beats. Wood characterized the inhabitants of this old world as speaking in a modern way, i.e. cursing like sailors. While I'm not sure how historically accurate this is, it was just jarring every time it happened. However, this story wasn't about historical accuracy, it was about characterization. Wood finishes Svens story by jumping into the future and showing how he spends his remaining years after his trials at home. In the end, Svens growth and maturity were more in line with the character driven stories that I had expected from Wood making me reassess my earlier assumption. Balanced with equal bits comedy, tragedy, and action, this book always made for a compelling read.

Gianfelices art in this book was great. The northern islands not only looked desolate but felt cold and forbidding. There was a grime on these pages that wouldn't wash off. Alternately, other locales like Constantinople were shimmering and bright. Battles were fierce and crowded and the sweeping vistas and cliffs gave a grand scale to the setting. Gianfelice has definitely made a fan out of me.

In the end, Northlanders was an entertaining series which offered much in the way of action, romance, and tragedy. In the vein of the old myths and Arthurian legends, Northlanders adds a contemporary spin that makes for a compelling story.

Episode 43- Avengers:The Initiative #15

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:14:00 -0700

I picked Avengers:The Initiative #15 as the best book that I read this week because it gave us a new and fresh look at the Secret Invasion and this continues to be one of the more consistently solid book at Marvel. Er also discuss Robin, Green Lantern Corps, Two-Face Year One and more. After seeing the trailer for Watchmen, I finally sat down and read the book and Eric and I discuss what we think of Alan Moore's masterpiece and we finish off the show with all the new and crazy news coming out of this year's Comic-Con.

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Who will take the mantle?

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:02:00 -0700

DC released a pretty exciting poster this weekend showing potential candidates for who may be replacing Bruce as Batman after the RIP story. I was pretty excited about this!

Book of the Week 7/24/08 Avengers:The Initiative #15

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:58:00 -0700

Written by Dan Slott & Christos Gage
Art by Harvey Tolibao
Colors by Jay David Ramos
Letters by Joe Caramagna

Eric and I talked about our difference in opinion with the way Secret Invasion is going so far and while I am loving the story, I can see where it may frustrating for some people. I think this issue of Avengers:The Initiative is a great story for those readers.

This issue while fully immersed in the invasion, really stands on its own. We see the invasion trough the most unlikely of heroes. A Skrull who has embraced humanity and decide to be a hero and join the initiative.

I have to admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the idea when I first starting reading but after doing into the back story of the character and the interactions that he had with both humans and skrulls, I just thought it was a very witty way to tell a story within this crossover.

Slott and Gage get some major points for thinking outside the box and actually making us care about this Skrull hero and making his love for the Earth believable. I wasn't a huge fan of the art, I thought it was a little bit too detailed and gritty bit it got the job and I really enjoyed the fight scenes.

All in all I just had a lot of fun with this story and it was a new way to experience Secret Invasion. Avengers;The Initiative is one of the strongest titles at Marvel right now and I hope it continues to soar post-Secret Invasion.

Episode 42- Final Crisis Rogue's Revenge #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:12:00 -0700

We're back from hiatus and ready to review some books! Eric chose Final Crisis:Rogue's Revenge as the best book of the week because it's Geoff Johns writing the characters he loves and that equals comic goodness. We also discuss several books from this week and last such as Captain America White, JSA, Batgirl,Mighty Avengers, Secret Invasion and more. We give you our thoughts of the Watchmen and new Terminator trailers and discuss the biggest movie of the summer, The Dark Knight.

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E3 2008 Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:15:00 -0700

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe was teased a while ago and while I was skeptical about the concept, I figured I would wait until I saw more footage to make my judgements. After seeing the new E3 trailer I am really against this game. It's weird to say,because I feel like such an "adult" but seeing my favorite DC characters in a gore ridden game......those are two worlds that I don't want to see together. Plus more than GTA or a regular Mortal Kombat game, this is going to attract the attention of smaller kids and I think that's a problem.

Here's the trailer though, judge for yourselves

E3 2008 DC Universe Online

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:43:00 -0700

Jim Lee came out during Sony's keynote speech at E3 to show off a trailer of the new DC Universe online game. A MMO game based in the DCU that lets you create your own hero or villain and then interact with the greatest names in the DC universe.

Book of the Week 7/16/08 Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:04:00 -0700

Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Scott Kolins

Well, we're back from our hiatus and ready to go again. As our return BoW I picked Rogues' Revenge #1. Final Crisis has drawn some criticism due to its apparent lack of direction. This may be valid or may not depending on if you judge its overall merits or by it's monthly offering. Rogues' Revenge I'm happy to say contains a more focused story...oh man...sorry, Batman and Robin is currently on TV and I forgot Coolio is in it. Poor, poor Coolio. Anyways, Rogues' Revenge=focused narrative albeit containing very little actual relation to the Final Crisis story. That's okay really.

Johns writing these characters again is a treat. This book acts as a follow-up to the much botched Bart Allen Flash series. We find the rogues on the run and ready to give up the lifestyle when Bart's killer, Inertia, is freed. The rogues, feeling that they were tricked into being a part of Barts death go after Inertia to get their "revenge". Zoom also shows up with an agenda of his own. Now I was there when Bart died. The rogues saying that the Flash should have been able to survive their attacks doesn't make me sympathize with them. They were a part of it whether they believe that or not. However, I am looking forward to seeing them try and follow their own twisted moral code.

Kolins' art is serviceable in this issue but its truly Johns' writing that makes this book stand out. The characters stating that "the death of kid flash was a mistake" feels like Johns not too subtly slamming DC in their decision to do away with Bart and if anyone can give us the final chapter in his death, I'm glad Johns is on it.

Book of the Week 6/25/08 X-Men Legacy #213

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:14:00 -0700

Written by Mike Carey
Pencils by Scott Eaton
Inks by Andrew Hennessy
Colors by Frank D'Armata
Letters by Cory Petit

This was a huge week for comics and I had the pleasure of reading a lot of quality books but in the end X-Men Legacy #213 was the title that struck me as the best thing that I read. I've been very lukewarm about this book because I didn't understand the motivation behind this book and why we needed it and while that still may be the case I think this is pretty much the best post messiah complex X-title out there and this is the only X-book that seems to have any read direction.

The current plot in this book revolves around the return of Mr. Sinister, who we saw die in Messiah Complex, and how his return is connected to Xavier. Carey is really doing some retconing but that's something that comics need to stay fresh and I'm really interested in the story that he's telling and where it's going. Something that engaged me within the first couple of pages is Sinister telling and showing Charles how much of a jerk he's been to the X-men and it's nice to see that addressed and to see Charles' reaction to his past mistakes.

I can't say that I am a huge fan of Eaton's pencils yet but I can say that I like him more and more as time goes on and I'm really glad that his Charles Xavier no longer mimics Patrick Stewart. His art does have a nice classic feel to it so I am digging that. I do think he could benefit from some better coloring though, the colors seem to be a little too wet and streaky.

All in all I'm happy that I am enjoying one of the X-books out there and, as I said before on the show, Sinister is one of my favorite villains and Carey is giving us a very interesting glimpse into his past and I like it.

Also, the very last page.......very cool.

Book of the Week 6/18/08 Y: the Last Man Book 10

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:43:00 -0700

Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Pencils by Pia Guerra
Inks by Jose Marzan Jr.
Colors by Zylonol
Letters by Clem Robins
Covers by Massimo Carnevale

My store was shorted some books this week and I was only left with about three regular comics. With such a light stack I walked over to the trade isle and remembered that this week...finally...after so much anticipation, Y the Last Man Book 10 was released. Being that it was by far the best thing I read, I'm switching things up this week to review this trade and the series on whole.

Admittedly I was late to the party. I'd heard about why but hadn't bought any of the series. After deciding to start some new books in trade format, I bought the first book and was instantly hooked. Vaughan and Guerra's basic idea of taking "the last man on earth" fantasy and turning it into a nightmare was excellently handled. As I picked up more books and watched situations progress and characters develop, the thing that stuck out to me most was how the gender role was so reversed in this book. With the men wiped out, women don't build utopia but militarize, hunt, and war with eachother. Meanwhile Yorick is not the most manly of males (which was great). Vaughan definitely plays on the darker side of humanity throughout most of the series which at times seemed to cast a shadow over the book but also always pushed the characters to grow and mature.

Apart from the overall themes, I fell in love with the characters. Yorick and 355 were the perfect odd couple comedy act. Every person had a specific dynamic with another character that no one else shared. Even Ampersand became endearing. With Book 10, which I won't spoil here, the goodbyes for each character were a mix of painful, bittersweet, and poetic.

Initially I thought that Pia Guerra's pencils were nothing special. The almost cartoony look I felt diminished the realism of the series world. Over time though, I changed my tune as I realized how much emotion Guerra's characters displayed and also how the somewhat "cartoony" look helped the book to not become too mired down with the previously mentioned dark storylines.

As much as I loved this story, every good story needs a good ending, Robin Hood shoots his last arrow, the Rebel Alliance defeats the Empire, Marty makes it back to 1985, and so it must be for Y. Book 10 utilizes a favorite concept of mine, the fast forward. After some fairly heavy story beats near the end, the last chapter zooms ahead 60 years. We see civilization somewhat rebuilt and it's revealed how the human race continued on. Throughout the flash forward, we go back in time at several points to say goodbye to key characters which is touching. In the last pages of the future, Yorick's fate as I stated earlier is a poetic fairwell that shows just how deep the scars of his journey are.

I truly loved this book. I believe that this is probably one of the best modern comics of recent times and will be held as an example of what the modern age of comics can be. Now, like all good comics, we wait for the movie.

Book of the Week 6/12/08 Booster Gold #10

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:42:00 -0700

Written by Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz
Art by Dan Jurgens

I've been saying recently how good this book has been and I'm glad to see that the momentum has never slowed during Johns' latest take on one of DCs classic characters. I've never been a huge Booster fan but I felt that so much depth was added during 52 that the character was really given a whole new start. This book has really given Booster a purpose and made him a viable character and not just a one-note joke. The fact that Johns was able to further explore his revised character with this 11 issue run has been great and provided a "sequel" to 52 and Omac Project.

This issue deals with the climax of the Blue and Gold story where Max Lord has succeeded with the OMAC Project and eliminated most of earth's heroes. The ultimate villain revealed in this issue was great but I felt that it almost relied too much on readers having read 52. Being that I did, I loved it. I also loved the realization for Beetle that how many lives had to be lost for him to live. More than anything, this issue finally provided not only an opportunity for Booster to say goodbye to his friend but for readers to do the same. There is a panel near the end of the book that tugs at the heartstrings.

Johns and Jurgens have done a great job on this book. I'm not sure how the next creative team will handle the book but this initial run will end up being a great trade. Jurgens art, while initially a little rough, has really sharpened and reminds us all why he is considered a great in his field. I never thought I'd enjoy this book as much as I have and with still one more issue to go in the story I eagerly await the finally to Johns' latest classic.

Book of the Week 6/4/08 Justice Society of America #16

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 15:28:00 -0700

Written by Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Pencils by fernando Pasarin
Inks by Rebecca Buchman
Colors by Hi-Fi
Letters by Rob Leigh

Well this one truly came out of nowhere this week. We talk about JSA constantly and it has become one of those books like Captain America or Ultimate Spider-Man, a book that is just constantly good, so much so that it may get lost in the pile. I admit that we're spoiled with some great stories in JSA so something pretty big has to happen to make it stand out as the book of the week and this was just a fun read!

Gog is on earth and like the JSA we readers have no idea what that means. Johns did a great job of letting you see this issue through the eyes of our heroes and I truly felt like I was there with them trying to figure out what to do about this so-called god that has suddenly shown up and appears to be a.....good guy?

The one thing that I was instantly excited about upon reading this issue was that it focused on Damage who is hands down my favorite member of the team and we're given a little more back story on his legacy in the JSA and there is a great turn for the character that I won't ruin here.

I just had so much fun with this book, I would assume that Gog is not going to turn out being the nice and gracious god that he is currently depicting himself to be but his actions would say otherwise so perhaps my feelings are wrong and Johns is going to throw us a curve ball.

The last thing I want to mention was the art by Fernando Pasarin which was just beautiful. Dale Eaglesham does a great job on this book but I think I may like Pasarin's art better. It really fit the feel of the story and the facial expression on the character on the last page. Perfect!

All this and Black Adam! How could this not be book of the week?

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 41- Final Crisis #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 13:23:00 -0700

Eric picked Final Crisis #1 as the book of the week because of the crafted set up by Grant Morrison and is intrigued to see what's going to happen. We also discuss Batman #677, X-Force #4, !985 #1, Giant Size Astonishing X-Men and more. We finish off the show with our reviews of Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and what I thought about the trade Eric gave me to read at the Seattle Con.

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Book of the Week 5/29/08 Final Crisis #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:47:00 -0700

Written by Grant Morrison
Art by JG Jones
Colors by Alex Sinclair

Okay, I admit this one is mainly for the DC nation out there. Someone looking to jump onto the story right here will really have a hard time. But...too bad. Final Crisis rears its head this week with a continuation of many stories we've been seeing in JLA, DCU #0, and several other recent titles. For those following the majority of those stories, FC answers some questions and raises many more. Personally, I was very entertained and intrigued with this book, knowing a few things that will arise and trying to understand what I was seeing.

Many people criticize Morrison for off the wall stories that are hard to follow. I feel that FC appears like that on the outside however DC has been very careful to release specials and books that give the history of all the characters we see in this issue. Someone shouldn't expect to jump into Back to the Future 3 without watching the previous 2 and understand what's happening. The same goes for FC as it's the third part of the Crisis Trilogy. To that end, FC#1 provides continuations to stories seen in JLA which culminates in the death of a major character as well as an interesting twist to the new gods story. It appears that death will truly be a revolving door in this book. I'm not greatly happy about that but I'm interested to see where it will lead us.

Jones' art is clean and crisp in this comic. Small touches such as John's ring illuminating his costume to large themes such as the lightening "flashing" against the red sky are great moments. The look of the characters is realistic and well defined.

While this book had several things leaving me scratching my head (why are Anthro and Kamandi together) I'm sure these will be explained soon. Overall I was very entertained with this comic and I'm excited for a finale to a story that began 23 years ago. Being a DC boy that's collected for most of that time, I almost feel like I have a personal stake in this story. Hopefully it will deliver on the promise of this issue.

Book of the Week 5/21/08 Avengers;The Initiative #13

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:57:00 -0700

Written by Christos Gage
Art by Steve uy
Letters by Joe Caramagna

I had no idea what this issue was going to be about because the whole story was summed up in issue #12 and I wasn't sure where they were going to go with the characters. Lucky for us, Marvel is still taking the idea of The Initiative seriously and in this issue we're basically starting over in sorts and are introduced to a new team of cadets and new recruits for training.

At first this bothered me because I had grown attached the to previous cadets but right away I was swept up in the character conversations and interactions and I was just having a fun time reading this book. This first issue revolved around Boulder, also referred to as Butterball. A young man seeking to be a hero but while he has an incredible power, you learn that he's going to need far more than that to achieve his goal.

This issue was very light and humorous, causing me to laugh out loud more than once and that's something that I think this book needs right now. The tone of the book had become down right depressing after the K.I.A. storyline and this issue was really a breath of fresh air for this series, one that has become one of my favorite reads.

Gage was spot on with the character interactions and did a great job at hitting you with a little unexpected emotion at the end and Uy's art is very emotionally charged, allowing you to easily read the characters emotions through their facial expressions and mannerisms.

This was simply a very fun comic book. No over-arching storyline, no big events. And almost all the characters were brand new, that's something that you don't see every often.

Give it a try.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 40- Batman #676

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:17:00 -0700

Eric chose Batman #676 as the best book he read this week because it's the start of the R.I.P. storyline and it really does feel like this may change the status quo of Batman for a while. We also discuss Fantastic Four:Secret Invasion #1, Titans #2, and more. We finish the show off with Eric giving some quick reviews of books that he picked up from the Seattle Con and review the trailer for the upcoming Wolverine & the X-men cartoon.

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Weekly Review Podcast Episode 39- House of Mystery #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:29:00 -0700

We're back from the Emerald City Comic-con and we're bringing you all the news and info that we could gather. Eric chose House of Mystery #1 as the book of the week because it was a refreshing break from the big events that are dominating both major comic companies right now. We also discuss Young X-men #2, Secret Invasion #2, Might Avengers #13 and more. We finish off the podcast by letting you know everything about last week's convention in seattle. Was the Marvel or DC panel better, who did we meet and what was the best thing that we picked up at the con?

Listen and found out!

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Book of the Week Batman #676

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:04:00 -0700

Written by Grant Morrison
Pencils by Tony Daniel
Inks by Sandu Florea
Colors by Guy Major

This probably isn't all that surprising but it was just too damn exciting not to pick. This week kicks off the Batman RIP story with typical Morrison zaniness all over the place. I've been back and forth over Morrisons run on the book so far, thinking that it was good but very odd in places. However recently the various links between the stories have started to tie together, even going as far back to 52. Something I enjoyed within this issue is that we see something that rarely ever happens, Batman appears happy. I know that substantial effort has been made to calm Bruce down over the last few years and we see that how the inclusion of Jezebel Jett in his life, and the fact that she now knows his secrets, has really helped him find a balance which works between Bruce Wayne and Batman. I really like this dynamic and wish we could see a little more of it but as things normally go for Bruce, I imagine we're seeing this now knowing full well that it will all come crashing down soon.

While we get alot of great Batman moments, we also get hints as to what the Black Glove society is. It's obvious that they are orchestrating the events that will be playing out in the book. I'd wish we'd spent more time in previous issues setting this group up since they evidently will be a big influence in the book but for now they seem to be a collection of circus freaks. The wild card of the story, as always, is the Joker. I'm not sure if there's anyone who can write the Joker in a more terrifying manner than Morrison, and that goes all the way back to Arkham Asylum. I wasn't expecting him in this issue since it's been alluded the whoever takes down Bruce will be new but with just a few pages, Joker proves why he is Batmans greatest foe. Those few pages are the stuff of nightmares.

I've said it before but Tony Daniel is the man! His style which is somewhere between Neal Adams and Jim Lee is incredible. Along with Guy Major's colors, Gotham, it's protectors, and its devils, all come alive with a feel that makes me remember what drew me to these books when I was a kid. The previously mentioned Joker scene in particular, all black and white with only red coloring for the blood splashed across the scene, was haunting and terrifying...which is exactly what this book should be. What excites me most about this story is that it feels like the stakes are high and the danger is real. Unlike the Gotham Underground miniseries (which is a exercise in wasting my time) this is an event which appears like it will leave a lasting impact on our Dark Knight.

Book of the Week 5/7/08 House of Mystery #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 7 May 2008 19:59:00 -0700

Written by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham
Art by Luca Rossi and Ross Campbell
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by Todd Klein

While Skrulls were busy taking over the Marvel U this week and DC was resting up before it's big summer push I decided to try a bunch of books which debuted this week. While almost every book was strong, I was most intrigued by House of Mystery #1. A reprise of an old anthology book, House of Mystery is a essentially a showcase book where each month short stories are told within the main narrative which includes a colorful cast of patrons that have turned the old house of mystery into a bar (which only a few people have ever been able to leave, kinda like a "hotel california" idea). Each month a different patron will be able to tell their own eff'd up story to other patrons which will be illustrated by various talented artists.

With all that being said, I really enjoyed this comic. Equal amounts of humor, gore, oddity, intrigue, mystery (duh), and fantasy, this book really felt like it had it all and went in places I didn't expect. At first I felt the book was all over the place but by the end understood how the style fit together and really enjoyed the format. Matthew Sturges focuses mainly on the patrons of the bar who lament about not being able to leave as well as a girl being chased by two ghostly figures who lead her to the house which has been haunting her dreams. Bill Willingham writes the central portion of the book, in this issue focusing on a girl who marries a fly...I told you it was odd. Willingham does well in this part as the middle serves as a small twisted tale which shows that the patrons of the bar are not quite what they seem.

The main artist, Luca Rossi does an excellent job of creating a dark and eerie environment in every area besides the bar. This makes the house/bar almost feel welcoming when it's bathed in Lee Loughridge's warm colors. This issue's guest artist Ross Campbell balances cute characters with disturbing environments and situations. Also, Campbell provides the most disturbing scene of the week with the oddest "childbirth" seen ever.

This book is truly entertaining and I'll gladly stick with it to see how the first run goes. This book feels right at home within the Vertigo universe and will hopefully not fade out in quality like others (Vinyl Underground). If anyone is a fan of the odd and disturbing, this is definitely worth checking out.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 38- New Avengers #40

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 7 May 2008 00:07:00 -0700

This was a great week for books but in the end New Avengers stood out as the best book of the week because I am so immersed in this story and it's been a huge pay-off so far. Eric and I also discuss DC Universe #0 to talk about the road the Final Crisis and this issue's shocking ending. We also talked about Avengers: The Initiative, Green Lantern, Teen Titans Year One and more. And Summer movie season is in full effect with the arrival of Iron Man. We'll tell you what we thought about the film and how it will effect the rest of the movies coming out this summer.

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The Real Deal

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sun, 4 May 2008 11:17:00 -0700

The official Batman trailer is now online. This is the same trailer that we posted a couple of days ago but that was the bootleg version, here you can see the trailer in all it's glory.

And if you look closely you'll see a little Two Face at the end.

See the official trailer here

Guess who's coming to Smallville?

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 2 May 2008 14:35:00 -0700

Superherohype.com has reported that Michael Rosenbaum will indeed be leaving the show as Lex Luthor but two more villains will be joining to show. Doomsday will appear in season 8 of Smallville and will be joined by an unknown female villain that will play an important role in Clark's life.

It will be interesting to see how they deal with Lex's departure of the show and if he'll be appearing at all in season 8, a lot of people think the female villain will be a version of Diana and Doomsday.....well who knows.

What do you think?

Book of the Week 4/40/08 New Avengers #40

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:10:00 -0700

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Jim Cheung
Inks by John Dell
Colors by Justin Ponsor
Letters by Albert Deschesne

Picking the book of the week can be a hard thing. There are so many factors that go into it. You want to pick a book that excites you and gives you an emotional response, you also want to try to be unique and look for different things in different books, I mean you don't want the same book to be the book of the week all the time.

That being said, last weeks book of the week was Mighty Avengers and this week the pick goes to New Avengers #40 and all for one simple reason.

Brian Michael Bendis really knows what he's doing.

We've already talked about how Bendis has planned Secret Invasion for years and that this is all coming to a head but this is just an amazingly crafted story. In this issue we're given the Skrull view of things and that may have been enough to grant this issue book of the week status. It was great to see things through the eyes of the Skrulls, to know and understand what they have planned and more importantly, why they're planning it. The Skrulls have become great villains and even better than that, they've become great characters. Learning about Skrulls in the recent months makes me want to know so much more and I'm very intrigued by their society and culture.

A man that can not be overlooked in the grand scheme of things is Mr Jim Cheung. I moon over Cheung all the time on the podcast and with good reason because his art is simply beautiful. There aren't a lot of artists that I get excited about but when I saw that Cheung was going to be drawing #40 with Bendis I became giddy with fanboyness and my expectations were met and exceeded.

Anyone who was a fan of New Avengers:The Illuminati will not want to miss this issue because a lot of back story was revealed here and a lot of things in this issue reflect directly back to Illuminati #1.

There were big reveals by both of the major comic companies this week and this issue had one of them and I was literally floored. I'm pretty sure that I gasped out loud because I didn't see it coming at all and it truly changes everything about what's going on in the Marvel Universe right now.

All in all this was a great book and this may possible be a perfect modern comic book. The big draw of comics, especially modern comics is the idea of an ongoing story that doesn't end, it only changes. Bendis is crafting a story that, if it continues to be executed as it has so far, will be the greatest comic story ever told.

I know that's a big statement, but I believe it.

I'm not going to ruin the shocking ending to New Avengers #40 here but Eric and I are really excited to talk about it so look forward to a major spoiler-full podcast this week!

New Hulk trailer

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:59:00 -0700

Marvel released the new Hulk trailer today and while I've been on the fence about out, this new trailer looks pretty sweet. Check it out below

Or you can check it out in HD on quicktime here

Star Wars Lives!

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:32:00 -0700

Click on the link to check out the leaked Clone Wars trailer that David and I are really excited about. Check it out and let us know if it's something you'll be waiting at midnight to see.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 37- Mighty Avengers #12

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:57:00 -0700

Eric picked Mighty Avengers #12 as the best book this week because Nick Fury is back and things in the Marvel universe are about to get very interesting. We also discuss the end of Countdown, Checkmate, Thor, X-Force and more. We talk about the variant cover to Uncanny X-men which hints that someone may be a skrull and finish the show out with discussing the new Star Wars Clone Wars trailer and if it looks good or if the Star Wars universe should have ended with the movies.

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FInal Dark Knight Trailer now online

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:39:00 -0700

It's just a bootleg version for now but the quality isn't bad and the trailer looks amazing. Ledger looks like he's going to be a great joker and I'm happy to see Harvey Dent getting a little more attention. Check it out

More Dark Knight Promos

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:52:00 -0700

Superherohype.com has posted new promo posters from the dark knight. I'm liking the Batpod but what really has me excited is the foreshadowing of Two Face.

A world without rules

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:48:00 -0700

The last official Dark Knight poster is online and it's getting me pretty exciting. Check it out

Book of the Week 4/23/08 The Mighty Avengers #12

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:15:00 -0700

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Alex Meleev
Colors by Matt Hollingsworth
Letters by Dave Lanhpear

I surprised myself with this one! On average most of my books were good to great this week giving me quite a selection to choose from. However, with more and more Marvel books being tagged with "secret invasion" I had to flip through and have a peek. Initially pulled in by Maleev's sketchy but oh-so-beautiful art, I decided to sit down and spend some time with the missing Mr. Fury. Boy am I glad I did!

This issue flashes back to show us how Nick Fury discovered the Skrull threat, and what he's done about it while staying off the radar. While I have never been an enormous fan of Fury in the past (admittingly having not read much of him), this issue is what I always imagined his character should be like. His interaction and warning to Maria Hill was handled wonderfully as well as his secretly recruiting Jessica Drew as a special agent, adding a new layer of depth to her discovery of "Skrullektra".

Bendis does what he does best and I'd be beating a dead horse by saying what a great writer he is. What I will say is I am always amazed at the consistency of his work. Rarely do I read something of his that doesn't feel natural for the character. In this book, everyone feels pitch perfect.

Maleev's art is wonderful. It's refreshing to get art like this that differs so much from so many "standard" superhero artists like Ed Benes where everyones bodies are interchangeable. This book has the feeling of an old classic movie like Casablanca where the women are sultry (not oversexified...but sultry) and the men are tough and grizzled. Maleev especially makes Fury look as though he never sleeps. Also, I'm so glad Fury is out of Shield and not having to wear the costume (which I've never liked). The wispy beard is the icing on the cake.

While I haven't been reading this book regularly, I may start with Secret Invasion commencing. I'm eager to have more badass Nick Fury weeding out the Skrulls. How about that wall full of photos with a few telling circled characters on the last page? Fury is all man!

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 36- X-men Divided We Stand #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:13:00 -0700

I chose X-men:Divided We Stand #1 as book of the week this week because I was surprised by how well the characters were written and blown away by some of the emotional punches of the book. Eric and I also discuss Countdown to Final Crisis #2, Captain America #37, Avengers:Initiative #11 and more. We finish off the show with a little listener feedback and discuss the upcoming Mortal Kombat vs. DC video game.

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Book of the Week 4/16/08 X-men: Divided We Stand #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:41:00 -0700

Written by Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Skottie Young, Matt Fraction
Art by Brandon Peterson, Sana Takeda, Skottie Young, David LaFuente, Jamie McKelvie
Letters by Cory Petit

I make a pull list every week before going to my store and I saw X-men Divided We Stand on Marvel's list of new books and I completely disregarded it. I thought it was a collection of stories gathered after messiah complex or at best a preview book of things to come and I decided that was not going to be worth my money. But when I got to my store I found that this book was already in my box and it being a somewhat light week, I decided to go for it and I am glad that I did.

Divided we stand is a group of short stories following various X-men characters following Messiah Complex and it was truly a great book. I've had my fair share of complaints about Messiah Complex, mostly about missing characters in the aftermath and this book did an excellent job of showing different characters reacting to what being an X-man meant to how they deal with the team no longer being around.

The stories varied from good to great but the stories with the New X-men were truly touching and emotional. I'll go into depth more on this week's podcast but there was a certain storyline in this book that really addressed something very important about being a young student at Xavier, something that I don't ever think has been addressed before.

Over all this book should have came out a couple of months ago and it would have really helped smooth the transition from Messiah Complex but regardless it was a book filled with wonderfully crafted character examinations and truly touching emotional moments.

This is a must read for any X-fan out there.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 35- Echo #2

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:48:00 -0700

Eric picked Echo #2 by Terry Moore as the book of the week because it's a little like Strangers in Paradise but it's also nothing like Strangers in Paradise. We also discuss JSA #14, Countdown #3, Fantasic Four #556 and more. We go in depth on the new Titan's series to see if it's any good and if we'll stick with it and with Tomasi's return to Green Lantern Corps with issue #23 we reflect on the Corps as a whole give our opinions on whether the Corps book is necessary. We finish off the show with Eric requesting a little help from all you gamers out there, so listen it and help him out!

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New Hulk Poster

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:45:00 -0700

While I'm not incredibly excited for this movie, I do love a good teaser poster and this one looks great. A little Phantom Menace-ish though.

Book of the Week 4/09/08 Echo #2

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 9 Apr 2008 23:08:00 -0700

Story and Art by Terry Moore

A lot of big books came out this week that I was really excited about. While many were thoroughly enjoyable, I really wanted to take this week to acknowledge the shear talent that is Terry Moore. This weeks issue of Echo continues to entertain and showcase Moores art.

Echo is the story of a government experiment gone wrong. A weaponized combat suit which has been secretly developed is lost in an explosion during a test run. Said suit rains down in a million pieces over a desert where our heroine is taking pictures. Pieces of the suit attach themselves to her, recreating part of itself and getting stuck in the process. That was issue one. This chapter deals with Julie, the main character, dealing with the fallout of having part of a weird metallic suit attach itself to her. Her confusion and reaction are very entertaining, especially the doctor and shower scene. Meanwhile we learn that the owners of the suit have started hunting for it. This book feels alot like a science fiction prime time television show. The pacing and characterizations are great.

With this book, Moore makes a drastic departure from his more familiar SIP material. The story works well though and mixes action and intrigue with the more familiar small character moments that Moore is known for. While the artwork is consistently great, it is still hard to not see SIP characters. I think for me, it will just take time to get used to seeing a new cast in this style. The thing I really love about Moores art is that the characters look like actual people and are not over-emphasized like we typically see in most comics. It's really refreshing.

Terry Moore has taken a chance on a new type of story that people weren't probably expecting but he's done a great job at setting up and executing a new and exciting premise.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 34- Secret Invasion #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 23:48:00 -0700

Secret Invasion #1 hit stores this past week and it was easily the best book of the week. Eric and I dissect the book and do a role call of who we think are true heroes and who are skrulls. We also discuss the The Trials of Shazam #12, Countdown #4, Young X-men #1 and more. We finish off the show by discussing of few of our favorite things to arrive this past week, Battlestar Galatica season 4 and a very well done mock trailer of a Legend of Zelda movie. This is a show you won't want to miss.

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The Legend of Zelda trailer!

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 19:12:00 -0700

Unfortunately it was an April fools joke but still good just the same and provided some discussion on our show. Check it out!

Book of the Week 4/2/08 Secret Invasion #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 2 Apr 2008 23:08:00 -0700

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Leinil Francis Yu
Inks by Mark Morales
Colors by Laura Martin
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos

WARNING! This review will contain some spoilers!

Ok, wow, I'm not even sure where to start. As corny as it sounds I think that I can admit that Marvel's Secret Invasion tagline is ringing true and I honestly do not know who I trust in the Marvel U right now.

Secret Invasion #1 hit stores today and Eric and I have been talking a lot about this book and whether it would deliver or not and I just thought it was excellent. I was actually excited to read this book and rushed home just to have to opportunity to tear it open and find out what the crap is happening to my beloved Marvel Universe, I haven't been this excited for a book since the final issue of Civil War.

The book starts off with a great sequence showing the desperation of the Skrull race following Annihilation and leads into an attack on earth, we're given a few small reveals which were very interesting and then all hell breaks loose.

Tony Stark being attacked by a skrull virus was the turning point in this book and through Stark the Skrulls systematically start taking down the entire United States in a sequence that was chilling and left me on the edge of my seat. It really shows how powerful on a man Tony Stark is and make you realize that maybe one man shouldn't be connected to so much power.

The big reveal was towards the end of the book when both Avengers teams are shocked to find copies of our heroes crash land on earth......and we don't know who's a skrull and who isn't. This was such a great move by Bendis, I was expecting a lot of reveals in this first issue and was looking forward to some great character interactions but we now have a situation where Hawkeye, Luke Cage and Wolverine are looking at copies of themselves who claim to be the real deal and this changes everything.

Leinil Yu has really outdone himself and the art in the book was simply amazing. His sharp and edgy pencils really came through in this story and lent to the overall feeling of desperation that Bendis set up. The expressions and emotions in the art when Tony was under attack was so intense and truly made me feel like I was right there watching it happen.

I've always been a huge fan of Bendis and I think he's at the top of the writers' stack but he's really outdone himself this time and I think we may be getting a great story, something on caliber with Geoff Johns' Sinestro Corps War.

I cannot wait for the next issue, to surf the net and see what other people's reactions are and record our show this weekend. This comic is a perfect example of why I love comics and just how exciting they can be.

Stay tuned for our podcast this weekend, I'm sure Eric and I will have a lot to discuss about this book!

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 33- Ultimate Spider-man #120

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:11:00 -0700

Eric chose Ultimate Spider-man #120 as the best book he read this week because of the great Bendis dialogue and humor. Secret Invasion is right around the corner and it showed this week as we discuss the skrull sightings in Ms Marvel #25 and New Avengers #39 and more. For our top 5 we give you our top picks for stories that we would give to non comic book readers and Eric tops off the show with his review of the new Killing Joke deluxe edition.

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Book of the Week 3/26/08 Ultimate Spiderman #120

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:23:00 -0700

Written by Brian Bendis
Pencils by Stuart Immomen
Inks by Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors by Justin Ponser

I'm not sure why all the good books come out in one week but that seems to be what happened this time. Faced with an onslaught of quality I had to pick Ultimate Spiderman as the book of the week for the simple fact that I really related to this story. Now I'm not talking about the superheroing and mutant abilities (that I'd tell anyone) but the simple bantering between friends, the caring for eachothers well being, all seemed very familiar to me.

This is the wrap-up to the 'amazing friends" story as Liz has discovered her new mutant abilities and the x-men and Magneto show up to recruit her into the mutant war. Alot of the first part of this story reeked a little too much of Empire with several rounds of "your father is...". However after the mutants go home Peter makes the decision to reveal his identity to Liz to let her know he can really help her. It was a wonderful moment between the two of them. My favorite part of the book was after Liz left for the xavier school, Peter and M.J. are left alone to which Peter says, "you wanna make out?" I laughed out loud (as I have used that wonderful line several times in my teenage days). Despite some of the heaviness of the story, these light hearted moments are why I love Spiderman, most notably Ultimate Spidey.

With the exception of his own characters, Bendis has more of a handle on Peter Parker than almost any other character he writes and he writes some damn good characterizations. The fact that he can balance the heavy and light scenes so naturally speaks to his incredible talent which we are all aware of. Immomen is awesome in this comic! I have absolutely no complaints or nit-picks about the looks of any of the characters.

Bottom line, this is pure comicy goodness and I can't get my fill!

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 32- Superman/Batman Annual #2

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:47:00 -0700

It was a pretty light week for books but Eric was surprised by how good the Superman/Batman Annual #2 was and it made its way to the top as the book of the week. This week we also discuss Countdown #6, Captain America #36, Robin #172 and more. We've both been contemplating dropping some of our books so we decided to vent our frustrations with our top 5 titles that need to be rebooted.

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Book of the Week 3/19/08 Superman/Batman Annual #2

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:13:00 -0700

Written by Joe Kelly
Art by Scott Kolins
Colors by Jorge Molina
Letters by Rob Leigh

It's always fun to truly be inspired by the characters we all read every month. All too often these characters can become bogged down in boring, slow, or meaningless stories that do nothing to remind us why we like them (Flash anyone?). Superman routinely falls within this category. However when teamed together Superman and Batman prove to be a pitch perfect combination...like peanut butter and chocolate. The two ends of the spectrum that each occupies serves not only to provide insight into how different each is (and also how alike) but also potentially how they need eachother. Without one, the other would eventually fall into an abyss whether it be Supermans willingness to forgo living among the people that keep him grounded and becoming a tool for the government (Dark Knight Returns) or Batman forgoing his Bruce Wayne persona and giving into his psychosis fully (Kingdom Come). For this reason, I'm glad that we have this book which showcases the inspiration not only other heroes look to but also any superhero comic fan.

This annual does not belong in continuity so if people are strong fanatics for that, they may be frustrated trying to figure out when this happens. This is a story that takes place after Superman and Batman figure who eachother are but before they are friends. This annual is a re-imagining of the forging of that friendship. A villain (Socrates) who can basically maim and rob victims by psychologically altering their perspective as well as fulfilling their wishes and fears robs Superman of his powers. A powerless Superman asking himself if he really is still "super" is not an incredibly new concept but that doesn't discount that this story provides a fun and insightful look into Bruce and Clark both learning to respect eachother and how eachother operates. Bruce with the help of Dick Grayson help Clark cast off his mental shackles and defeat the villain.

Joe Kelly is no stranger to the "inspirational" story. Kelly wrote "The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan". That tale is still one of my favorite Hal stories which looked at both the good and bad within the character of Hal (before Johns made the excuse that he was just possessed). He seems to have a great handle on the DC icons and their relationships with eachother.

Kolins art is good in this issue with the exception of one thing. Batmans cowl looks too much like a bucket and therefore gives Batman a robocop type of look. Other than that I really enjoyed the look of the characters, especially Robin. Molinas colors seemed a bit dark in this book. Even though alot of this book takes place in the batcave, this book seemed to ring a little close to Ultimates 3.

All in all I really enjoyed this book for what it is, a re-imagining of the early days of the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight. I wouldn't want to live in a world without either of them.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 31- Mighty Avengers #10

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:57:00 -0700

I picked Mighty Avengers #10 as the best book this week because of the great "old school" presentation and the foreshadowing of things to come. We also discuss Avengers:the initiative, Fantastic Four, Booster Gold and more. Eric embraces his Nintendo pride as he gives you his review of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii and we finish off the show with speculation on the new Hulk trailer. Will it be good or another bust?

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New Hulk Trailer

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:56:00 -0700

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the film but the first Hulk trailer has finally hit the net and I don't know, I think it looks OK but I can't say that I'm excited about this movie. Check out the trailer and see for yourself

Book of the Week 3/12/08 Mighty Avengers #10

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:20:00 -0700

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Mark Bagley
Inks by Danny Miki & Allen Martinez
Coloring by Justin Ponsor
Letters by Dave Lanphear

I've been talking about Mighty Avengers for quite a while now I finally have the chance to pick it as book of the week. I'm especially happy to pick this issue because, well this issue reminded me so much of why I love comics in the first place.

The issue picks with Tony Stark, Doom and the Sentry stuck in the past and reading through this book was exactly like reading a book in the 80's/early 90's. Marvel went back to the old school printing and coloring. Bagley did an amazing job of drawing characters as he did 10+ years ago and it's amazing to see how far comics have come since then.

I'm not sure if this story arc was planned by Bendis originally or just came along after the trouble with Frank Cho but I haven't enjoyed a single issue like this since.....well since I went back and read some of my old issues.

Another note about this storyline is that I feel like it's going to matter in the long run. So far it seems like it's pretty self-contained which I like but I also feel like Bendis is foreshadowing some things for us. Stark trying to figure out if Doom is a skrull. Doom and Tony talking about the advances in his armor and again, the fragile mental state of the Sentry.

All in all, this was just a great issue and I've said it on the podcast many times and I'll say it again here. Go pick up this book. It's well worth it!

Watchmen publicity shots!

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 7 Mar 2008 06:52:00 -0800

With recent adaptations like 300 and Sin City showing that epic comic stories can come to the big screen, I have faith and hope that Watchmen will not disappoint. Here are some publicity shots recently released of the characters and now I'm really starting to look forward to this film.

Book of the Week 3/5/08 Northlanders:Sven the Returned #4

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 5 Mar 2008 20:21:00 -0800

Written by Brian Wood
Art by Davide Gianfelice
Colors by Dave McCaig

Whew, there were some enjoyable books this week! This week I have to give credit where credit is due and admit that Brian Wood's foul mouthed viking saga really has me hooked now. One part historical fiction, one part action/intrigue story, the flow of the book is really gripping. I've talked about this comic several times on the show and I think the story is really now hitting its stride.

While I didn't notice it at first, somewhere along the line, I've really grown to...not exactly enjoy the characters, but become incredibly interested in what happens to them. Their motivations aren't noble and while there are clear villains, there are no real "good" guys. Now that I think about it, the main characters are reminiscent of 70s-movie anti-heroes, who lived in a very grey moral area. After a brief action packed intro, Wood spends most of this issue delving into Sven's real reason for coming back to his homeland and trying to regain his family's fortune. The character of the archer is also gradually becoming more of a main figure in the book which I'm very happy about. She adds a sliver of emotion to a very cold landscape. The scene which sold me on this book though involved the death of two characters who have rarely been in the entire series. However, their deaths solidify the sad state of Sven's homeland and finally seem to rock his inner core to elicit some character growth. All in all, I was captivated by this issue.

Gianfelice's art is solid. While not quite realistic and not quite animated, it seems a little loose at times. On other titles that may be a bad thing but with this story, it tends to add to the rugged look of the environment. This seems to be intentional as contrasted between shots of the main setting where the art is gritty and the flashbacks of Sven in Constantinople where both the scenery and characters are much smoother, In general, both the art and colors echo the feel of the book, having a weathered and dirty look to it.

I haven't heard much talk of this title but I'm glad I've been able to pick up on this book. With only four issues in, it shouldn't be too hard to find the back issues and be caught up. This one is definitely worth the ride.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 30- Thor #6

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 21:21:00 -0800

I picked Thor #6 as the book of the week because it's one of the most beautiful books out there and the story is surprisingly deep and fulfilling. Eric and I also discuss the first true epilogue to Messiah Complex in X-Men:Legacy #208, Eric was actually moved by All Star Batman & Robin #9 and we touch on JSA #13, Kick-Ass #1 and more. We finish the podcast off with our review of The New Frontier animated movie. Can it possibly live up to the book?

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New Iron Man trailer

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:35:00 -0800

The new Iron Man trailer premiered with Lost tonight and this movie keeps looking better and better. Judge for yourselves below.

Book of the Week 2/28/08 Thor #6

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:48:00 -0800

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Pencils by Oliver Coipel
Inks by Mark Morales
Colors by Laura Martin
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos

I've basically been gushing about this book since it came out and I said it once and I'll say it again, I never even considered buying a Thor Book before six months ago but now I'm hooked. JMS has done a wonderful job of rebooting the god of thunder and using him in the modern age. Thor isn't on Asgard, he's on Earth and the first five issues have dealt with him making a decision on behalf of the rest of the gods and just what will that decision be.

We see Thor's choice in this issue and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Just when I think that the book may falter and lose its way, JMS really comes through and changes things. It's just been announced that JMS is no longer exclusive to Marvel so I don't know where that's going to leave Thor. Perhaps he's still going on with the book or maybe he's leaving but I really hope that's not the case because this has become one of the books that I'm most excited to read every month.

I can't forget to mention Oliver Coipel's art because that's what made me want to try this title in the first place and its been stellar through this whole arc. Coipel's art is subtle yet strikingly beautiful, it's not the kind of art that you would expect from a Thor book but it's also the perfect fit. This was Coipel's last issue and while I'm expecting good things from Marko Djurdjevic, I'm really going to miss Oliver. I've been a huge fan of his since Avengers and House of M and I'll buy anything he does.

I don't hear a lot of people talk about this book....I actually don't hear anyone talking about it so I hope by reading this, you'll give the book a shot. This isn't the typical gods at war Thor book in years past. This book is centered around emotion, relationships and being a part of something special.

Try this book out, you won't be sorry.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 29- Checkmate #23

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:49:00 -0800

We have an all comic review show this week and Eric chose Checkmate #23 as the book of the week and is wondering why he hasn't been reading this book more. We also discuss Justice League of America, Countdown, Robin, Mighty Avengers and more!

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Book of the Week 2/20/08 Checkmate #23

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:56:00 -0800

Written by Greg Rucka & Eric Trautmann
Art by Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
Cover by Kalman Andrasovfsky

I've picked up random issues of Checkmate in the past and can admit that it's always been a fine book. I thoroughly enjoyed the "Checkout" storyline as well. For some reason or another I've just never bought the book on a regular basis. However this week provided me the opportunity to jump on at the beginning of a new story arc and I can tell you I'm on board for the foreseeable future.

This comic hits all of its marks. It has great espionage stories without trying too hard or being overly dramatic like some television shows. The cast of characters also play well off one another. This issue revolves around Checkmate trying to get one of their undercover agents out of a Kobra stronghold. In order to accomplish this with minimum loss of life, they must enlist the most unlikely person to be involved in shady government operations...Superman. It's great seeing how Clark works with Sasha and the rest and the conflicts Clark has about getting his hands dirty. Really it would have been more reasonable to see someone like Batman in this role but I love that it was Clark who was tapped.

Rucka creates a great story here that anyone can jump into without having read the book in the past. I'm sure this story will pay off even more for longtime readers but I'm happy that with a book that has such a large cast and is fairly reliant upon DC history, anyone can jump on here.

Bennett and Jadson do a terrific job on the art. While not overly complicated, the art is reminiscent of Rags Morales with a slightly more "developed" look to it. They especially did a great job portraying a "darker" Superman.

This book did a great job of drawing me in and providing an intriguing story that will have me coming back for more next month. Kudos for also giving me a sneak preview of the new Titans book in the last several pages too!

The Final Crisis is almost here

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:43:00 -0800

DC comics has released the cover to the first issue of Final Crisis and it looks pretty sweet. I've been pretty vocal about not liking this idea but I'll try out the first couple of issues. J.G. Jones' is a skilled artist and these covers are looking good(although I think they may be a slight knock off of John Cassaday's Astonishing X-men variants)But good nonetheless!

First look from Wolverine

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:48:00 -0800

Logan's back and here's the first image from the X-men spin-off Wolverine. Due out next May, The movie will explore Wolverine's past while also giving him reasons to keep having Berserker rages. After X3 I can't say I'm too excited about this but Jackman does create a great on screen Logan.

It's here!

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:16:00 -0800

Damn I'm excited for this. As we promised, here is the new Indy trailer posted by newsarama.com. I really can't wait!

And check out the official site for more!

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 28- Nightwing #141

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:12:00 -0800

Eric was more than happy to choose Nightwing #141 as the book of the week because of the powerhouse team of Tomasi and Morales. We also discuss Ms. Marvel #24 and find out who's a skrull, Uncanny X-men #495, Teen Titans Year one #2 and more. In comic news we talked about Trinity the new upcoming weekly from DC comics by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley and we finish off the show with our top 5 picks for the most inspiring moments in comics, the moments that had influenced the industry and the readers.

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Book of the Week 2/13/08 Fantastic Four #554

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:43:00 -0800

Written by Mark Millar
Pencils by Bryan Hitch
Inks by Paul Neary
Colors by Paul Mounts
Letters by Rus Wooton

I've read the Fantastic Four on and off ever since I started reading comics but this has to be the first time that I've been excited about a new FF run. Don't get me wrong, there's been some great runs over the years and the book has been really good recently but the FF has never received a lot of attention and buzz and I've always loved that about the book because it's great to have a solid book but some really good stories have been told in Fantastic Four lately and you also want people to take notice of that.

That being said, Millar and Hitch do a great job and making fans excited about the Fantastic Four again. I was worried about the Ultimate team moving over to the FF because it's Marvel's first family and I want it to stay that way. Millar is known for being over the top and pretty mature and that's something that I don't want to see in a Fantastic Four book and I'm happy to say that this has the makings of a great family based FF run.

Millar seems to have a great grasp and appreciation for the characters and it really shines through in the book. The personalities are spot on and there are several moments in this issue that made me laugh at loud. I've never had a single bad thing to say about Bryan Hitch and I still don't. His art is amazing, I love his facial expressions and his detail is astounding! There is a page towards the end of the book that is unbelievable.

This was a great comic book and something that you don't see in the industry too often. The Fantastic Four represents the softer side of superhero comics and that's probably why it never stands out and I hope Millar and Hitch will bring new readers on board. This was just a fun read and it made me feel like I was 10 years old again, being in awe of these great superheros and wishing I had an uncle Johnny and uncle Ben.

Book of the Week 2/6/08 Nightwing #141

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 20:07:00 -0800

Written by Peter Tomasi
Pencils by Rags Morales
Inks by Michael Bair
Letters by Sal Cipriano

I can't even explain the joy I had reading this comic. As fans of the podcast know, I'm a huge Nightwing fan. Unfortunately lately his book has been...well...lacking. Marv Wolfman had a good start but unfortunately the book became a preview for Wolfmans other project. Well I'm happy to say that Tomasi and Morales have brought one of my favorite characters back from the brink.

While the last issue set things up for Dick's new life in New York, this issue is the true start of Nightwings investigation into the missing bodies that are disappearing from the graves of deceased heroes and villains. Also, this issue could be called "Nightwing and his amazing friends". Superman, Batman, the Justice Society, John Stewart, and Wally West all make an appearance. People complaining about the "new" Wally should pick up this book as it really feels like the old "pre-responsible" Flash. Also, I appreciate Tomasi remembering that Wally is really Dicks best friend and two haven't really caught up since his return. Surprisingly, with all these heroes showing up, not much action really takes place in this issue but the mystery does deepen and it's nice to see Dick Grayson portrayed well again.

I didn't mean to pick another Tomasi book this week but lets face it, this guy is on a streak! I've been okay with the lack of action so far in the story because I know the guy can write it as we've seen in Black Adam. So far he has done an amazing job of giving Dick some great moments with his supporting cast as we saw with Bruce and Tim in the last issue and the rest of the DCU in this issue. I think above all, I'm happy to see the character finally given the respect he deserves in his own book. Wolfman came close but wrote the character like he did when he was younger. This feels right for the character given his age, experience, and role in the DCU.

Rags Morales is incredible. His style has definitely grown since his work on Identity Crisis. He also does well when framing a shot. Credit also needs to be given to Michael Bair who adds great mood to some of the panels. The shot of another well known deceased villain being pulled from the ground was downright chilling.

As I said earlier, its nice to have this book back to where it should be. I don't think I've been as excited about its direction since Chuck Dixon was on the title. Things are looking up for the former boy wonder!

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 27- Black Adam:The Dark Age #6

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 6 Feb 2008 00:08:00 -0800

This was a huge huge for book so we pass up on our top 5 for the week and focus completely on this week's comic's. Eric chose Black Adam:The Dark Age #6 as the book of the week because of the emotional take on DC's breakout character. We also discuss Bucky as the new Cap in Captain America #34, Green Lantern #24, Countdown, New Avengers Annual and more!

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First Mark Bagley DC Art is Revealed

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Tue, 5 Feb 2008 23:31:00 -0800

As we've talked about on the podcast Mark Bagley is leaving Marvel for DC and newsarama.com just released this first look of Bagley's DC art. He'll be working with Kurt Busiek on a yet to be announced project but it sounds like a great team for a book. Marvel will miss you Bags!

Book of the Week 1/30/08 Black Adam #6

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:54:00 -0800

Written by Peter Tomasi
Pencils by Doug Mahnke
Inks by Christian Alamy and Rodney Ramos
Colors by Rob Leigh

Damn, this was excellent. I really wish that other writers in DC would strive for the kind of storytelling achieved through this 6 part storyline which concludes this week. With a few notable exceptions, DC stories seem to rely too hard on the high concept blockbusters. "Black Adam" has proven that small, character driven stories can be equal parts action and emotion.

This is primarily a story of lost love. Black Adam is by no means a hero or even an anti-hero. Yet throughout this series, I have become more and more interested in the continuation of a character that is actually a mass murderer. Tomasi gives Adams every action a reason. There is no insanity here, just the dire lengths that Adam will go to to be reunited with his lost wife. Tomasi also has given us a complete bridge from where we left Adam at the end of 52 to the beginning of Countdown. While this story was plenty dark, there were several little moments that made me chuckle such as Adam finally discovering his magic word again.

Much of the credit of this series needs to go to Mahnke's pencils. This book is graphic and quite honestly, I'm surprised it was not labeled as a mature title. Mahnke seems to have a soft spot for horror books and movies as he continually finds new and disturbing ways to animate corpses and dismemberment. Almost everything in this book is the stuff of nightmares. Ex. Faust's eyes.

This series has proven to be a great "under the radar" book. While not garnering much attention, it has proved consistently entertaining. While there was one other series which came to an end this week that I really wanted to skip ahead to (I'm reading it in trades) I figured I'd give a little attention to this mini-series that should be an example to the rest of DC. Their characters are capable of great depth but can also kick ass at the same time.

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 26- Young Avengers Presents #1

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:38:00 -0800

Young Avengers Presents #1 took the book of the week because it was freshing to see a Young Avengers book out and it was really well done! We also discuss X-men #207 the end of the Messiah Complex crossover and give our final thoughts. We cycle through Astonishing X-men #24, Teen Titans #55 and more. After Amazing Spider-man #548 I finally decide if I'm going to continue reading Spider-man and we finish off the show with our picks for our top 5 Superhero teams.

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X-men writer Mike Carey discusses the future of Marvel's Mutants in a post Messiah complex world

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:54:00 -0800

Messiah Complex is now over and while it answered some questions, many were left opened and even more questions were raised.

Mike Carey, current writer of X-MEN(which will be changing to X-MEN:Legacy) talked to newsarama.com and discusses the twists and turns of Messiah Complex and what we can expect in the future.

Check out the interview here

Book of the week 1/23/08 Young Avengers Presents #1: Patriot

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:33:00 -0800

Written by Ed Brubaker
Pencils by Paco Medina
Inks by Juan Viasco
Colors by Nathan Fairbairn
Letters by Cory Petit

I've been pretty vocal about how much I loved Young Avengers and that it's something that Marvel really needs to address. Allan Heinberg came out with one of the best books in the past few years and in my opinion he took the Teen Titans formula and greatly expended on it.

But that was years ago and we still haven't seen a new Young Avengers book. We've been teased with appearances in The Initiative and Civil War tie-ins but we still haven't received an on-going title and hopefully this new mini series will lead into that.

This new take of Young Avengers is a six issue mini that focuses on the individual characters and we're first given a closer look at the team leader Patriot. Brubaker goes back through Patriot's origin story and gives us a little more depth of the character and if this is something that we'll see throughout this series then I have no doubt that it will be something special

Something that I really loved about this issue in particular is that it basically is the hero's quest tale. Eli is a young boy with so many conflicting emotions and he doesn't know what he's supposed to be doing, much less what he should be feeling. There are also a lot of racial undertones in this book and as an african-american male I can really relate to what the character was feeling and it brought me into the story in a very profound way.

I've always gushed on Paco Medina's art and this issue is now exception. I'm a huge fan of team books, especially younger teams and Medina's bright and vibrant art works well in that context.

I'm happy to have anything Young Avengers right now and I hope we get the series back soon, but until then I'm looking forward to getting to know these characters better on an individual basis.

Book of the week 1/16/08 New X-men #46

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:35:00 -0800

Written by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost
Pencils by Humberto Ramos
Inks by Carlos Cuervas & Dave Meikis
Coloring by Edgar Delgado
Letters by Dave Sharpe

Well I hate to start off this way but this was a pretty mediocre week for comics for me. I've loved Messiah Complex and I've picked it a lot for the book of the week so i was hoping something else would jump out at me today but New X-men was the best book I read this week hands down.

I've become huge fans of Craig and Kyle and I've mentioned them various times on the podcast, they're done something that I didn't think was possible anymore and that's make a new generation of X-men likable.....very likable. And it was great to see then take on the whole X-universe in this issue

We only have one issue left and there are still twists and turns abound and the main reason that I love this story so much is that is truly feels epic. We still don't know everything about this baby but you can feel how important this event is.

We saw some great battle scenes in this book and there is a great undertone of desperation for this characters that really makes the reader engage in this story and I've been very impressed so far.

I do have some concerns about how this is going to wrap up with only one issue left but the Messiah Complex team has done a great job so far so I'm going to put my trust in them.

And the scene with Rogue and the baby......just who is this kid?

Weekly Review Podcast Episode 25 Green Arrow/Black Canary #4

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:22:00 -0800

Eric picked Green Arrow/Black Canary #4 as the book of the week because of how powerfully emotional it was and gives credit to Winick and Chiang for the great work they're doing on the book. We also discuss Green Lantern Corps, Nightwing, Countdown and more. We give you guys an in-depth review of Amazing Spider-man #546 the first issue of Brand New Day and finish the podcast off with the top 5 comic events we're looking forward to in 2008

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More Brand New Day info

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:18:00 -0800

Newsarama.com has posted new info about Brand New Day.

They have an interview with Amazing Spider-man writer Dan Slott on the new status quo of Spidey and what we can expect from the book

And they also have some very interesting interviews with Comic Book retailers and how the Spider-man changes have affected sales.

Check out the Dan Slott interview here

And if you're a comic fan I really suggest checking out the interview with the retailers here

Dawn of a Brand New Day

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:52:00 -0800

Amazing Spider-Man #546 is out and we are offically introduced to the new status quo of Peter Parker.

Obviously you guys know I was pretty passionate about One More Day so you can read my thoughts on Brand New Day here.

And post and let us know what you guys think of the new Peter Parker.
We're interested to see how it's being received.

Book of the Week 1/9/08 Green Arrow and Black Canary #4

contact@fanboysstrikeback.com (fanboysstrikeback.com) — Wed, 9 Jan 2008 19:24:00 -0800

Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang
Colors by Trish Mulvihill
Letters by Pat Brosseau

This was another hard week to pick just one book. As I bemoaned several weeks ago, I wasn't thrilled with anything coming out. That has greatly changed. Almost every book I read this week could have made the list...almost (I'm looking at you Brand New Day). In the end, I'm a sucker for an emotional story and Green Arrow and Black Canary delivered that in spades.

This issue picks up just after Conner had been struck down in the last issue. What this chapter centers around is Olivers frantic reaction to get his son help and then reflection on what kind of father he's been over the years. There was an intense feeling at the beginning of this book as Oliver shouts out orders to get the boat they're on to shore even though he's not really helping, culminating in his frantic screaming for Clark to come help. The intensity gave way to uncertainty. Winnick writes the hospital waiting room scene so well that anyone who is unfortunate enough to have had to sit through those kind of tense moments will greatly identify with Oliver in this scene. Several other great moments punctuated this book such as Hal yelling back at Ollie after being pushed into the O.R. and Bruce telling Diana that reassuring words don't mean much when you lose a son. This comic is a testament to dramatic superhero books that I would give to anyone curious about the medium of comics.

Judd Winnick has always excelled at comics like these. From his days of writing Green Lantern, to the resurrection of Jason Todd (who no one has written as well as Winnick), and his run on Green Arrow, a dramatic flare has always been present. That's not to say that Winnick can't right great action scenes but there is something special about how he writes the bonds between certain characters. You get the feeling that you really know these characters even if you haven't read anything they've been in in years. To compound that, you feel like you've been punched in the gut when something happens to them. I remember feeling that way several times with Kyle Rayner during Winnick's Green Lantern series.

I love Chiang's art. It is a thing of pure beauty. It's not animated but not quite realistic either. It's like a hybrid of the two styles that so greatly fits this book. Expressions on the faces of Chiang's characters are a strong part of this issue. It should also be noted that Trish Mulvihill's colors make a great addition.

This book was strong out of the gate and doesn't feel like its slowed even a bit. It's intense, fun, fast, and emotional. This is one that is not to be missed!