Category: Comics

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Comic Review: Batman The Killing Joke

Batman The Killing Joke

An origin story about the joker who is trying to break the will of a good man–Commisoner James Gordon. An iconic DC title written by Alan Moore (The Watchmen, V For Vendetta) and illustrated by Brian Bolland (Animal Man, Wonder Woman).

Batman goes to see the Joker in the hopes of trying to get through to him. This of course fails and later the Joker escapes once again. He takes over a run down amusement park and begins to make some changes. Commisoner Gordon is captured and tortured by the Joker. Bringing him back to the amusement park Gordon is forced to sit through a specially made ride of hellish proportions, just for him. With this, Joker hopes to prove his point–we are all just on bad day away from becoming like him.

Another game changer in the Batman universe. Not only do we get to see how the Joker came to be, we also understand more about why he does these things. You will definitely fell a little sick during some points of this comic. Try to imagine yourself in Gordon’s shoes. A must have for any Batman fan. Also if you want your mind blown check out Grant Morrison’s opinion on the ending.

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Comic Review: Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Promise

Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Promise

For fans of the show who can never get enough Avatar this is a welcome edition. Dark Horse brings back Aang and team Avatar as if they never left, with the help of author Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Level Up) and artist team Gurihiru (Fantastic Four, Spiderman).

Zuko is now the Fire Lord and ruling is never as easy as it seems. With the war over, now is the perfect time to spread peace. The harmony restoration movement is there for just that reason, to return Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom back to their people. A seemingly easy task but with many unforeseeable consequences.

Instantly, you are drawn back in to everything you love about Avatar. Aang with his words of wisdom and moments of complete childlessness. The stern but lovable Toph Bei Fong and the continuation of her own creation-metal bending. Sokka, the loyal maker of plans and catchphrases. The wonderfully bright and warm coloring prepares you for that happy, tingly feeling that you only get from the world of Avatar. It’s good to be back.

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Comic Review: Batman Broken City

Batman Broken City

It’s a noir style Batman story that has the perfect kind of grit that Brian Azzarello (Loveless, 100 Bullets) and Eduardo Risso (Spaceman, 100 Bullets) have come to be known. Their usual style transfers quite well into the world of Batman.

A murder takes place in Gotham City with a dead woman found in the dump. With the body partially eaten, it fits the profile of Killer Croc. When confronted Croc points out that there is no real evidence and that Batman can’t do anything about it. This sends the Bat all over town putting him at odds with such people as the Penguine, Scarface and others. Will he find the killer or will this become another unsolved crime.

This world has a very dark and scary feel to it. It really is noir style, with the violence much more visually brutal. At times, the story can be confusing and you can feel lost.  If you like Brian and Eduardo than this is a good, quick read.

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Comic Review: Great Pacific Volume 1 Trashed

Great Pacific Volume 1 Trashed

Is it possible to start your own sovereign country and if you could, would the world let you. Written by Joe Harris (Bishop-The Last X-Man, Slingers) and illustrated by Martin Morazzo, Image’s newest comic wonders that too.

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Comic Review: Kingdom Come

Kingdom Come

This DC book really got me into reading comics. It’s the story of how after Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the older superheros quit, the present generation heroes are faced with the blurred line between right and wrong.Writer, Mark Waid (Incorruptible, Daredevil) and artist, Alex Ross (Astro City, Universe X), tell this story.

The superheroes that fight to save people have lost their way. They’re more concerned with destroying their enemies than saving the lives of the people in danger. Superman has been retired for some time but still keeps an eye on the world. One day, he can no longer let things continue down its current path.  His intervention and presence brings out the heroes of the  old. With these actions, a rift in ideals is created that challenges the status quo.

The story delves into what truly makes a superhero. Is it just fighting evil at any cost or is it more than that. Being that this is in the future, you get to see how age has changed some of your favorite heroes. You may be surprised to see how some have changed.

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Comic Review: Aphrodite IX Vol 1

Image Comics Aphrodite IX Vol 1 tp

Image Comics/Top Cow Productions has been known in the past to put some really pretty comic books but most times that is all they are pretty. At first glance, Aphrodite IX seems to be another one of those types of books. As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. After reading the first volume of this series, I found myself craving for me. Not only does the artwork look fantastic, the story is also really good.

The basis of the story is like Aeon Flux meets James Cameron’s Avatar and throw in some Halo video game action. The title character Aphrodite IX is a femme-fatale, genetically altered humanoid assassin who is controlled by a handler. Earth in is a post apocalyptic state with two surviving races at war with one another living on an area along the Earth’s equator that is still habitable. One race is homo-sapien with genetic enhancements living in air fortresses and the other is a race of cybernetic homo-sapiens living on the ground. The two are at war for political control and survival with Aphrodite IX unwillingly trapped in the middle of it.

The story is written by Matt Hawkins (Think Tank, Necromancer) and drawn by Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade, Army of Darkness). The artwork is beautifully done with nicely painted panels and Top Cow President/CEO Hawkins has definitely written a great story!  I could see either movie or a TV series done on this property sometime in the near future.

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Comic Review: The Punisher Presents Barracuda

The Punisher Presents Barracuda

O yeah the big bad Barracuda is back in Punisher MAX with his own miniseries. Enjoy this Marvel MAX title written by Garth Ennis (Red Team, Crossed) and illustrated by Goran Parlov (Fury MAX, Y The Last Man).

Barracuda is approached by Italian mafia boss, Chris Angelone, with a proposition. He needs Barracuda’s help to take out his competition ,Leopoldo Luna, in a war over cocaine prices but he wants his son who is a hemophiliac (may bleed out due to minor injuries) to kill him. He agrees to help but knowing Barracuda, it may not turn out the way Chris had hoped.

Anyone who has read Barracuda before will really enjoy this mini-series. Full of ridiculously funny humor and over the top violence. They even pay homage to the  TV series, The Soprano’s,  in the first issue and there is also a Christopher Walken type character. A definite must have for your Punisher collection.

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Comic Review: Avengers Vs X-Men

Avengers VS X-Men

The Phoenix Force is returning to earth once again, which starts a conflict between the Avengers and X-Men over what to do. This massive 12 issue event by Marvel has various authors and illustrators throughout its run.

Sam Alexander crash lands on earth and before he goes into a coma he tells the Avengers of the impending arrival of the Phoenix Force on earth. Believing that it will inhabit the body of Hope Summers, Captain American travels to Utopia, the home of the mutants. He asks Cyclops to hand over Hope so the Avengers can protect her but Scott doesn’t agree. He believes she will be the savior of the Mutants. With no choice, Captain America goes to get the Avengers. This leads to an all out battle between the two forces and the fate of the Phoenix Force.

I really enjoyed this series. Full of epic battles, some outcomes are easy to guess while others take you by complete surprise. There are some serious consequences resulting from this that lead up into the current run of Marvel Comics.

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Comic Review: Batman: The Court of Owls, Volume 1

Batman: The Court of Owls, Volume 1

When you hear people say this may be the best comic of 2012, it’s not a Batman bias. It’s because the story takes a hold of you and never lets you know where it will go next. Writer Scott Snyder (Iron Man Noir, Swamp Thing), penciller Greg Capullo (Spawn, The Creech), and inker Jonathan Glapion (Teen Titans, Green Lantern) have brought to life a new enemy that threatens not only Batman but Gotham City itself.

The Court of Owls brings Batman to a point even he might not be able to come back from. This seemingly new group may be his downfall. With their eyes and ears everywhere, Batman is the one playing catchup to discover anything he can about this new foe. If Batman stop them, “The Court of Owls has sentenced you die,” may be the last thing he hears.

With so many different Batman comic series coming out DC’s New 52 it’s hard to know where to start. This one should be first on everyone’s list.The first issue may seem a bit slow but once you are introduced to the Owls you can’t help but wonder who these people are and where they came from.

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Comic Review: Kick-Ass 2, Prelude: Hit-Girl

Kick-Ass 2, Prelude: Hit-Girl

Kick-Ass is awesome but you all know the best part about this series is little girls! No, I mean a little girl! Umm — that still doesn’t sound right. Hit-Girl is the man — if a man could kick as much ass as a little girl trained from childhood to take down mobsters. Icon Comics brings the pain again with everyone’s favorite (well, maybe not everyone) Mark Miller (Wanted, Sin City) and artist John Romita Jr. (World War Hulk, Eternals).

The writing flows alongside the artist’s illustrations. It’s more of what you want to see: high-school kids dressing up and trying to patrol the streets, Red Mist still working his way up to becoming a super-villain, Kick-Ass doing his best to learn all he can from Hit-Girl — with plenty of witty banter. Hit-Girl doing what we like most: beating the hell out of people and killing them all while trying to be a regular high school student. Bullets, beat-em ups and bloodied bodies — it’s what you look for in a Kick-Ass comic and it delivers!