The Definitive Batman

2008's The Dark Knight might just be the best comic book movie ever. It took a character who has been in so many movies of varying quality and finally got it "right". Finally, grown-up fans of the character and even their less indoctrinated peers could see the character done right; a lone, bitter warrior fighting back against the corrupt individuals that infected his city and killed his parents. It also grossed absurd amounts or money at the box office while remaining pure to director Christopher Nolan's vision. I can proudly say that this is one of my favorite movies ever. Still, I will stop just short of calling it one thing; this is not the definitive version of the Batman.

That brings up a very important question: What is the Definitive version of Batman?

Actually, we don't have to go far to see another really great interpretation of Batman that is just as valid as The Dark Knight. In 2008, the very same year that gave us Nolan's Bat-masterpiece, the Cartoon Network premiered Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a cartoon about the adventures of the Caped Crusader and various other heroes from throughout the DC Universe. While The Dark Knight was a great piece about the self contained world of Batman, Batman: The Brave and the Bold showed off how Batman can work in a big shared universe. This is a Batman who works with Aquaman, The Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, and everyone in between. Also, while The Dark Knight showed us how he can be a dark, brooding character in a very serious world, The Brave and the Bold gives us a Batman who is still a serious individual, but this time in a goofy, fun world that feels like it's sprung up right out of the Silver Age of Comics.

Both of these Batmen are very similar characters; they both have all the gadgets and they both fight crime so that no one else ever has to go through the tragedy they've endured. The difference between the two is the world they occupy. Nolan's world is grounded and serious. It's one that any adult can enjoy without having to hide it. Batman: The Brave and the Bold's world is one that your kids can enjoy and that a good deal of adults might not want to own up to enjoying. Both versions are well written and stay true to the very foundation of the character. Still, I don't think I can stop here and say that this is the definitive version of the Bat.

Let's stick to the year 2008 and take a turn to the Batman comics book. At this time Grant Morrison was still early in his ongoing Batman saga and he'd just gotten to the first big story of his tenure, Batman R.I.P. This is a story of Batman facing the ultimate evil; the leader of the Black Hand, a man claiming to be Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas Wayne. The build up to R.I.P. and the story itself draw much from Batman's long history, even using material from stories deemed to childish or fantastic to actually work in a modern Batman story.

One of the most prominent themes Morrison has run with is Batman as a concept. Batman and Robin follows the exploits of the original Robin, Dick Grayson, and Bruce's son Damian as the Dynamic Duo. Bruce Wayne is presumed dead throughout the sixteen issues of the book that Morrison penned, while the last couple of issues came out simultaneously with The Return of Bruce Wayne, which saw Bruce falling through various periods in time, each time becoming the Batman of that period. Each and every example I just noted tells the story of Batman in a different manner, but each one sticks to the key elements of the character. All of this leads into Bruce's return and the beginning of Batman Incorporated. Batman Incorporated follows Bruce as he travels to world and begins to deputize various individuals as the Batman of their region. The entire point of this run is that even Bruce Wayne isn't necessarily a defining characteristic of Batman; he can work in any setting. This is the closest of these three examples to what I could call a definitive Batman.

With that I think I've come to my point: there really is no definitive version of the character. Batman is just such a versatile character that he can be applied to almost any kind of story and situation. He can be serious, dark, and brooding. He can be a goofy, corny guy who spouts out silly one-liners. He's been portrayed by such actors as George Clooney, Adam West, and Christian Bale as well as lesser known actors like Diedrich Bader and perhaps most notably by Kevin Conroy.

Even Batman's greatest nemesis, the Joker, lacks a true definitive portrayal. Heath Ledger will certainly be remembered by many as the character, but there are many versions of the character that are just as important. Mark Hamill's portrayal of the character in various movies, tv shows, and video games is one that me and many of my peers will always remember. He's played the role for nearly two decades now, which means he's been in some of the most memorable Joker stories of all time.

Even within the comics, writers such as Alan Moore, Dennis O'Neil, Ed Brubaker, and J.M. DeMatteis have contributed to a long list great Joker Stories that shaped or analyzed the character in one way or another. Another important point of Grant Morrison's Batman run is that the Joker is a character who can be constantly reinvented. Maybe he's a psychotic mastermind who wants to best Batman or perhaps he's a crazed anarchist who wants to watch the world Burn. He could even just be a goofy criminal, simple as that. As long as that key element of the clown motif is there, then you can try anything you want.

Even the cast of characters Batman surrounds himself with is never really solid. The only two real mainstays are Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Gordon, and even then what role do they play? Is Alfred simply Batman's loyal servant or is he Bruce Wayne's surrogate father figure? Is Commissioner Gordon Batman's good friend or just a man who turns to caped crusader in his time of need. Maybe he has a Robin, maybe he doesn't. Who fills the role of that Robin? Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, or perhaps even Jason Todd. Is there a Batgirl? Is Catwoman an enemy, an ally, or a potential love interest? Is he a member of the Justice League and if so, how active a member is he? All of this changes over and over depending on the creative team.

The definitive Batman doesn't exist. Batman is a character who doesn't have much to define him outside of "vigilante with a bat motif." That's such a flexible idea that it really works well in just about any story you could think of. Nolan's The Dark Knight is just as valid and true to the mythos as Batman: The Brave and the Bold. As long as he's a crime fighter sworn to avenging his parent's death by striking fear into that superstitious, cowardly lot, then it's definitive. The limits of what that means lies solely in you imagination.

Justice League #1: 52 Thoughts on the First Book of the New 52!

It's finally here! As of today, DC's The New 52 begins with the release of Justice League #1 from Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. So here I am wondering what I'll do with this since everybody else on the internet already seems to have read this issue and reviewed it already. Instead, I'm going to reread it and post up 52 things I find interesting about this issue. Let's get to it!

1: It's already been said that this takes place in the early days of the DCU, so it's kind of cool to see this series beginning with Batman getting chased down by the GCPD.

2: The second page is a nice big splash page. Almost makes me want to go reread Batman: Hush. Keyword there: almost.

3: Thought I'd get a better look at the details of Batman's new threads here. Outside of the bat gauntlets, no dice.

4: While I'm on the topic of Batman's costume, I'm kind of steamed that they got rid of the Batman Incorporated costume so quickly. I was really enjoying that look. It feels like it's been squandered.

4: There we go; a nicer look at Batman's new costume! It looks a bit similar to the Arkham Asylum costume.

5: Also, holy crap, batman's got tiny little rockets in his glove. Nice.

6: Bwoof is an odd sound for a helicopter to make.

7: First time I read this, I thought that was Killer Croc in the cloak.

8: Yes Batman, fire your grappling hook through his calf muscle!

9: Bwoooooooshhhhhhh is probably an appropriate sound for whatever this thing is to make.

10: Look out Batman, it's a robot!

11: Suddenly, Hal Jordan! With the Fire Truck! On the Rooftop!

12: This scene would be infinitely cooler if this were Killer Croc and Hal was throwing a green rock at him.

13: It'd be a pretty big rock...

14: Hal is surprised that Batman's real. Yep. The space cop thought Batman couldn't be real.

15: Also, Hal's shoulder pads look dumb.

16: You'd think the cops would know better than to fire at a someone in glowing green spandex with a magic space ring. Not that they'd know it's a space ring...

17: Looks like this is gonna be a Batman and Hal team-up issue.

16: Seriously, we just got through a Flash and Batman team-up in Flashpoint. Has Geoff Johns been watching a lot of Batman: The Brave and the Bold lately?

15: It also almost makes me want to reread All-Star Batman and Robin because Batman and Hal meeting was the basis of the single best issue of that series. Keyword there: almost.

16: Uh-oh, the robot isn't quite dead.

17: Man, no wonder Gotham cops are so corrupt; they don't have a great track record with staying alive, so they might as well make as much as possible why they live.

18: Dammit, it's "CRASH" not "KRASH"!

19: And the robot gets away as by turning into a spider looking thingy.

20: Okay Hal, just shut up. That's not what a transformer looks like and that's not what a dog looks like. Your track record with describing things is terrible. Remember Larfleeze? You called him Gonzo when he clearly looked like Alf. How are you this dumb?

21: And now Batman's mocking Hal. Stupid Hal.

22: Y'know, on the one hand, nice to see that Hal's helping out, but on the other, leave some of those fires to the fire fighters. That's their JOB.

23: Actually, can green lantern construct water to take out the fire? Does that mean there's going to be green construct puddles after all of this?

24: "...Green Lanten can handle anything." Geez Hal. Ego much?

25: Batman has a power Hal. It's called endless wealth. Also, he's Batman.

26: Oh look, a NEW 52 checklist. I'm seriously only buying about 1/4 of these books at best.

27: Just like ASBAR, Batman totally stole Hal's power ring. Now Hal's angry.

28: And they found the "dog" it looks like it's vomiting kirby dots.

29: Oh look, the "dog" is fusing a box to a wall. huh.

30: "For Darkseid!" Hmmmm? I wonder what THAT could mean.

31: And the "dog" blew itself up, probably because Hal called it a dog.

32: Darkseid: a band, a death cry, or an evil space god? YOU DECIDE!

33: Yes, this box must be related to Superman! I mean, they're both from space, right?

34: Batman: "Let's be careful around Superman. He seems pretty dangerous." Hal: "Pfft, screw that! I'm the Green Lantern!" Yep. This is gonna end poorly.

35: Meanwhile, at a Highscool football game... wait, what?

36: Oh, right. Cyborg's origin story. He's really good at foot ball.

37: Aw, his dad didn't show up to the game. Nothing is sadder than an athlete looking to see that reserved seat empty.

38: And everyone wants a piece of Vic Stone. In fact, the only way for him to not make it into college is if he ends up getting turned into a crime fighting cyborg. Oh, wait...

39: "Hustle, Hit, Never it!" Varsity tag?

40: Poor Vic just wants his dad to see him win the big game.

41: Also, why the hell is he using a payphone? Is this set back far enough that cellphones weren't widespread yet?

42: Also, what the hell Vic's dad? Your kid's future as a pro is at stake and you can't take off for one night to sit down and help him figure out which college to sign him up with? You suck at being a parent.

43: "Man, Look at him, Vic's got it made." Yeah, what with the neglectful father, not even showing up to his game or taking the time to help him sort out his future.

44: It's a bird! No it's a plane! Wait, yes. It's a plane!

45: Man, Green Lantern really sucks at being inconspicuous.

46: "Well, you can't fly..." Yes, Hal. You have a point. I mean, it's not like a guy who can afford an impressive costume like that would have the money for his own jet or anything.

47: Oh hey, they're at a Lexcorp building and there's a hole in the side. It's either Superman or one of the countless monsters that Lex Luthor keeps making to kill Superman.

48: "I can handle this!" PUNCH! THOOM!

49: Hey, it's Superman! And he's looking and acting really cocky. Oh boy.

50: And the issue is over! Next issue: Batman vs. Superman!

51: Not a bad issue, really, but not something I'm gonna come back to month after month. It's decompressed to the level of a Bendis Avengers book. I'll wait for the trade to read more.

52: Oh hey, bonus art! Man, the Green Lantern outfit looks worse here. Superman, on the other hand, looks much better. Those red gauntlets add a lot of needed red to the outfit and the cape attaching directly to the big S-shield is pretty cool. The final product is pretty lame in comparison. Aquaman isn't too shabby, either.

And, that's it! 52 thoughts for the first of the New 52! Not sure if I'm going to do this every week, but I thought it'd be an interesting thing to do instead of just a straight up review. Like I said, the issue isn't bad at all, but if every issue is this decompressed, then I'll stick to the trades. Still, I am looking forward to Batman, Action Comics, All-Star Western, and Blue Beetle. Hopefully the good titles get to stick around.

Comics I Like: 8/03/2011

From the depths of the internet, it's COMICS I LIKE! August is here and that means we're reaching the end of the Summer. It also means we're a month away from the DC Relaunch. This week, we've got comics, comics, and more comics. We also have some manga! So let's get started:

DC/Marvel/Liscensed

Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3

Writer: Brian Azarello

Artist: Eduardo Risso

Batman: Knight of Vengeance has been quite the wild ride. This alternate reality tale where (spoilers)Bruce Wayne died and Thomas and Martha Wayne ended up as Batman and the Joker is a truly tragic tale. Watching the flashback to young Bruce's death is a real heart breaker. Watching the Waynes slowly lose themselves in their attempts to cope with their son's death is crushing. All of it comes down to a final, devastating confrontation where nobody walks out okay. This team of Azarello and Risso have crafted a truly amazing take on this mythos that stands so well on it's own. As good as Flashpoint itself has been so far, this comic by itself stands leagues above it and goes above and beyond what my expectations for this event and all of it's tie in stories.

Secret Six #36

Writer: Gail Simone

Artist: J. Califiore

Colorist: John Kalisz

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Just like Batman: Knight of Vengeance, Secret Six was an ending that made me sad. Over the last three years, this has been hands down one of my favorite team books coming out of DC. As the story draws to a close, we find the Secret Six aiming to take down Batman by attacking and killing members of his "family". We're also treated to 3 small vignettes between, each summing up well how the members have grown over time. Each one sums up nicely the growth this team has gone through over the run of this series: Scandal Savage has found herself some happiness and Catman, Deadshot, Ragdoll have a particularly touching moment where they come to terms with what it means to be friends. Perhaps the best moment is the group realizing that they're at the end of the rope. Their last stand, along with Huntress' little monologue, is a great way to end this book. And it really sums up what I've loved about this book: Sure, these characters aren't heroes, but they are people and most of all, they're friends. Thank you, Gail Simone, wherever you are. This was a really fun ride while it lasted.

Venom #5

Writer: Rick Remender

Aritsts: Tony Moore and Tom Fowler

Inker: Crimelab Studios

Colorist: John Rauch

Letterer: VC's Joe Carmanga

Okay, this one's actually from last week, but still, Venom #5 is my first foray into this title from Mr. Rick Remender and it's got me sold on this series. This issue, we find our hero (Flash Thompson, Spider-Man's high school bully and the current recipient of the Venom Symbiote) actually not doing much work as Venom. He takes out some weird fly person at the beginning of the issue, but for the most part, this is a story about Flash Thompson's relationship with his dad, which is an abusive one. Reading this one tore at my heartstrings, and if you've ever had a loved one who was addicted to substance abuse, it'll resonate with you too. Reading about how Flash's life was affected by his father's alcoholism and just what he went through in his attempts to earn the love and respect of a man who didn't seem to keen on giving it is crushing. It's a harsh issue and by the time it's over, I don't see how anyone won't feel a little choked up reading it. (What is it with me and heart breaking comics this week?)

Amazing Spider-Man #666

Writer: Dan Slott

Artist: Stefano Caselli

Colorist: Marte Garcia

Letterer: VC's Joe Carmanga

Enough of this sad stuff; let's get to some good ol' fashioned comic book fun. If that's what you want, look no further than Amazing Spider-Man. Issue #666 is the Prelude to the Spider Island event, where New York comes down with a case of Spider Power fever. This issue is comprised of small scenes showing off just how awesome Peter's life is lately. There's a great mix of the Peter Parker and Spider-Man parts of Pete's life here, so there's not too much of one half. this is a nice little issue that gives us one last little breath before the storm that's about to take us through to November begins. Dan Slott's run has been nice so far, but this is the first big test as this is the first major story arc we'll really have. This will also be the last time I talk about this book on the blog until Spider Island ends. I want to see how it plays out entirely before I really voice my opinion of the entire story.

Hulk #38

Writer: Jeff Parker

Artist: Elena Casagrande

Colorists: Bettie Breitweiser and Jim Charalampidis

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Forget the Blob: nothing can stop Jeff Parker's run on the Hulk. Not even a mediocre event like Fear Itself can slow this series down. Yes, this is yet another great issue in Mr. Parker's great run on this series. This issue, we've got the Red Hulk getting his butt kicked around the the Hammer possessed Thing and MODOK and new Hulk baddie Zero/one teaming up together to kill Nazis. Not once does this event tie-in issue slow down because of it's association with Fear Itself. This is a plot that just keeps on soldiering along, even if it has to acknowledge that something big is happening across the Marvel Universe. So I salute you, Mr. Jeff Parker; not only are you writing two amazing books, but you're doing so despite the fact that they're being tied into one of those pesky event books.

Indie/Creator Owned

Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #2

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Sean Phillips

Okay, so this one isn't from this week, but if you're not reading Criminal: The Last of the Innocent, then you're just really bad at comics. Yes, the creator owned series from the team of Ed Brudaker and Sean Phillips is back and I've decided to take the dive and give the series a shot. This series follows the tale of a man who wants to kill his wife so that he can get out of his marriage while still remaining rich. This is a really great tale of what drives a man to kill and it's fascinating to watch the depths of underhanded, mean things that are accomplished. Mixed into it all is flashbacks done in the style of old Archie, but with much more vulgarity mixed in. And just when you think you're done with the issue, unless you've been reading this series for a while now, you'll find yourself surprised to learn that each and ever issue features a fascinating little essay in the back. So for the price of one comic, you're getting a great comic and a great essay. Why haven't you purchased this one yet?

Manga

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Vol. 1

Writer: Kenji Kuroda

Artist: Kazuo Maekawa

Translators: Alethea and Athena Nibley

Letterer: North Market Street Graphics

One of my favorite Nintendo DS games is Capcom's Ace Attorney series. Sadly, the latest title in the series might not get distributed in North America, which really sucks. Still, I managed to find a bright side this week, as I came across this at my local comic shop this week. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, from Kodansha comics is just the fix I need, providing new stories set in the world of the games. It even follows the formula of a game in the series. Every case has twists and turns in it, each a little more complex than the last. Also like the games, the first case in this manga features poor old Winston Payne as the prosecutor who just can't seem to build a solid argument. Another great things about this book is the art.

Artist Kazuo Maekawa does a fantastic job of making this comic look incredibly close to the art in the games. She even does a great job of working well with the tiny details in images. One great example in the first case is a very important detail in a cellphone image that ends up proving the defendants innocence. This is exactly the kind of thing you'd find in the games themselves, and this team of writer and artist really did a great job of crafting a story that fits in perfectly with the games. Another nice part of this comics is a section that gives some translation notes: it's nice to see the translators explaining that Japanese and English aren't perfectly compatible and explaining who and why they made some of the changes they made. There is one part of this manga that left me scratching my head: the Honorifics Explained section is nice and all, but it's unnecessary when this thing doesn't even keep the honorifics in the dialog (which again, runs true with the games).

Overall, this is a great book and belongs on the shelf of any fan of the Ace Attorney series. Even if you haven't played the games yet, give this one a shot; you may like what you read. (You might also be interested in previous manga releases "Ace Attorney: The Phoenix Wright Files" and "Ace Attorney: The Miles Edgeworth Files").

That's it for this week (and some of last week) in comics. Come back for some more reviews next week and maybe even a few more surprises (like me posting at all!) I've been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately, so I think I'm going to post up a big ol' review of the first three seasons. I've also got to get back to posting Webcomics I Like; I've really been slacking off on those. Enjoy your weekend!

Comics I Like: Procrastination Edition!

Hey, look at the time! It's REVIEWING TIME! Sorry for procrastinating on these so much lately, I've really been getting distracted by my 3DS. Between replaying Super Mario 64DS and Cave Story and finally playing Ocarina of Time (I'm ashamed to admit that it's taken me this long to play this game), watching Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Which I will do a large review of when I'm all caught up) and Doctor Who (not so much reviewing this one, but I am loving it), I've distracted myself a little too much to do these little reviews. Still, here I am, with a bunch of comics I've been reading. I'm even dipping into non-creator owned stuff with this post! So let's get to it.

INDIE COMICS

The Goon #34

Writer and Artist: Eric Powell

It's been quite a while since the last issue of The Goon came out, so it's really nice to have this series back. This issue, Powell tackles the Twilight phenomenon in one of the best introductions to a comic I've ever read. He really does a great job of satirizing the Twilight style vampires and even provides us with a cover that I'd love to have on a T-Shirt.

But, oh, Twilight is only the beginning, as the Goon decides that it's time to take the fight to the source itself: tween girls. Yes, for too long we've had to sit by and watch these young lasses flood the airwaves with terrible things like Twilight, the Jonas Brothers, and dozens of other terrible, horrible forms of entertainment that no one should ever be forced to endure. Powell tackles this subject with his usual style of crude humor and he does so very well. If you haven't been reading The Goon, give this issue a chance. You won't be disappointed.

Verdict: BUY IT

RASL #11

Writing and Art: Jeff Smith

Much like The Goon, it's been a little bit since the last issue of RASL hit. Unlike The Goon, this isn't a one-and-done story. Still, this is yet another solid chapter in Jeff Smith's latest book. This issue has a really neat, trippy sequence in it, too, as our hero finds himself disconnecting with reality as a result of his travels between alternate timelines. If you've been reading this series so far, then you'll really be intrigued by the big event of this issue.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend this issue to new readers. If you haven't been reading this one, put out the money for the large hardcovers or the paperback pocket edition. Otherwise, you'll really find yourself confused with what's going on. Still, I do recommend that you read this series, because RASL is such a good read. Don't miss out on it.

Verdict: BUY THE COLLECTED VOLUMES INSTEAD

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #2

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Sean Murphy

Colorist: Dave Stewart

Letterer: Pat Brosseau

I have a confession to make: I haven't been reading American Vampire. I'm ashamed of myself. It's got one of my favorite artists, Rafael Albuquerque, providing art that's finally getting him noticed and it's apparently an amazing read. So needless to say, I took this opportunity to get started on the series with American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest. This miniseries follows two of the characters from the main book as they go on a mission to take down Nazi Vampires before they can be unleashed onto the battle field. So we've got secret agents fighting Nazi Vampires using guns that fire wooden bullets? Awesome.

Sadly, regular series artist Rafael Albuquerque isn't providing art on this miniseries. Fortunately, Joe the Barbarian artist Sean Murphy is providing the art. Needless to say, said art is fantastic here. Heck, this may be a case where I pick up a series more for the art than for the writing. Considering how fantastic the writing is on this mini, that's really saying something.

Verdict: BUY IT

Marvel, DC, and Everything Else!

Sonic The Hedgehog #226

Writer: Ian Flynn

Artist: Patrick Spaziante and Tracy Yardley

Inker: Terry Austin

Colors: Matt Herms

Letterer: Matt Workman

First up on the Non-independently owned side of things is Sonic the Hedgehog, a comic that I'm actually jumping back onto. This issue is the first part of the Sonic: Genesis story line, in which writer Ian Flynn hits the reset button and sends the story back to the original Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis. Needless to say, this issue is one huge nostalgia trip as our hero traverses the Green Hill and Marble Zones. Long time fans won't lose too much, as Freedom Fighters Sally, Antoine, and Rotor join him in his adventures. The story is light and fun, which is great because fans old and young alike will find themselves enjoying this one.

Perhaps the strongest element of this comic is the art, which is great. Spaz and the other artists really do a great job of bringing the classic games to life, bringing back some of the classic designs. This works especially well with Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik himself, who is back to his orignal design. Every page is like a window into my childhood, where I spent hours in front of my Sega Genesis playing old Sonic games.

If you're looking for a nice piece of 90's nostalgia, give Sonic the Hedgehog a shot.

Verdict: BUY IT

Batman: Knight of Vengeance #2

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Eduardo Risso

Of all the Flashpoint tie-ins out there, I'm only reading two different series. Of those series, Batman: Knight of Vengeance is far and away the better of the two. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that this is the best event tie-in series I've ever read. The story revolves around the Flashpoint timeline Batman as he searches for the Joker, who has kidnapped the children of Harvey Dent. The big twist of the issue is just who the Joker is, though I actually saw it coming by the time I was halfway through the issue. Still, just the way they reveal the Joker's identity and just what the Joker does at the end of the issue is powerful enough that it still pays off.

Mr. Azzarello really does a fantastic job weaving this story of a darker, older Batman and the fact that it's Thomas Wayne who fights to avenge Bruce's death makes this twisted image all the more intriguing. I think what I love most about this story is that you could actually remove the Flashpoint banner as this could stand alone as an Elseworlds' title. You don't need to know why this world is the way it is and you don't need to know that this Batman is helping Barry Allen fix this dark reflection of the DC universe. All you need to know is that this is Thomas Wayne a man who lost his family that night, who now fights crime as the Batman.

Verdict: BUY IT

Amazing Spider-Man #665

Writer: Dan Slott

Artist: Ryan Stegman

Inker: Michael Babinski

Colorist: John Rauch

Letterer: VC's Joe Carmagna

Finally, we have Amazing Spider-Man #665, the final issue before we start huge Spider Island storyline. This issue focuses on how Pete's new chapter in life affecting his tradition of taking in crappy movies with his good friend and former love interest Betty Brant. Sadly, Pete's new job and his membership in the Future Foundation and the Avengers, on top of his regular Spider-Man duties keep him from taking part in their favorite passtime. So when Betty decides to take in a movie she really wants to see by herself in a bad part of town and ends up getting mugged and seriously injured, Spider-Man goes on the hunt. Add in some touching moments in the main story and the back up and you get and this issue isn't too shabby.

Still, this isn't the strongest issue of ASM, and considering how close we are to Spider-Island, that really makes this issue stand out even less. It's still a good issue, just not a very strong one. That being said, the art in this issue is great. From that lovely cover up there (easily my favorite cover of the week) to the lovely interiors, this is a pleasure to look at.

Verdict: BUY IT

So that's it for now. I'll be back Thursday or Friday with a few of my favorite issues from this week, too. I'll also be back within the next two weeks with my thoughts on the first season of Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. For now, however, I'm going to go get some sleep.

Good Bye, Ultimate Spider-Man.

For those of you who haven't read Ultimate Spider-Man 160 yet and plan to, stop now unless you don't mind spoiled endings. You've been warned.

This week, Ultimate Spider-Man #160 hits the shelves. It ends the "Death of Spider-Man" storyline. In this issue, Spider-Man dies a pretty heroic death stopping the Green Goblin from killing Aunt May and everyone else he loves. I'm going to admit that I'm sad to say goodbye to this character.

Ultimate Spider-Man is probably my favorite Superhero comic ever. It was the first I kept up with on a regular basis and it's the one that got me into western comics, period. I got the first volume for Christmas in 2005, along with the first two volumes of Bone, and a few Batman trades, including Year One, DKR, Hush, and A Death in the Family. Of all of those, Ultimate Spider-Man volume 1 was the first one I opened up and read. From that moment on I was in love with that series and I would go out and buy a new trade whenever I had the $15-20 to shell out for one.

The series was a fantastic re-imagining of Spider-Man for a new generation of readers. It had all of the elements of the classic Spider-Man stories, retold perfectly for a modern audience. Sure, some of the dialog was a bit awkward at first, but everything else was fantastic. Perhaps where the series was it's strongest was in just how well Brian Michael Bendis wrote the cast of characters and the drama that was their lives.

About a year later I started buying single issues just in time for the Ultimate Clone Saga story line. The thrill of buying individual trades was replace with the thrill of buying each new issue, which wasn't hard to wait for since Mr. Bendis and Mr. Mark Bagley could churn out issues at an insane pace. Sometimes it felt like I was only waiting two weeks between issues. As time went on, new artists came and went. But the book was still great and it even stayed good through Ultimatum, at which point it was the only readable book in the Ultimate line.

I remember how angry I got at Ultimatum and the idea that Jeph Loeb was just strutting on in and killing off everything he could in the Ultimate line and it looked like he had his sights on Spider-Man. I always looked at it as that one jerk everyone grew up with who loved breaking your favorite toys. I kind of feel silly now that I felt so violated, but reading that issue of Ultimatum (issue 5, which was the only one I bought) and seeing someone else come in and supposedly killing off this character that I've grown so attached to. It felt wrong.

Now I look at today. Bendis kept Ultimate Spidey alive and well for about two years past that. A new series got luanched and it was great. And Pete got a few more stories until Bendis set this in motion. But this feels right. He's not just some casualty in a really bad crossover story. He died doing what his Uncle Ben wanted him to and he died saving Aunt May.

So I'm sad, but at the same time, I don't feel angry or betrayed. If this version of Peter Parker that I've grown so attached to has to die, this is how it should end. He stopped the bad guys and saved the people he loves. And now we're going to have a new Spider-Man in this Ultimate line. I'm going to give that first issue a shot, but I'm actually ready to let go now. If this is my last hurrah with Ultimate Spider-Man, then so be it. If you somehow read this little blog post Mr. Brian Michael Bendis, thank you. I'm glad I got to come along for this ride. I'm sad, but I think I'm ready to leave it here.

Indie Comics I Like: 6/1/2011

So now that I'm done being lazy and back to somewhat regular posting, it's time to return to the indie spotlight. Then I decided that was a dumb name and that "Indie Comics I Like" is better. This week I've got a new title from Image comics, plus four that I haven't gotten around to talking about. Oh, I'm also trying out a new Format for these short reviews. Feedback would be very awesome.

Reed Gunther #1

Writer: Shane Houghton

Artist: Chris Houghton

Reed Gunther And the Steak Snacking Snake! is the story of a Cowboy who rides a bear. Oh, and he's fighting a giant snake, too. If you can't tell how awesome that is just by reading that sentence or looking at that cover to the left, then there is no helping you.

So what's going on in said awesome comic? Well, in our fun filled first issue, Reed and his bear buddy Sterling are helping a cow herder save her cows from a giant, cow eating snake. It's a fun introduction to a world where a cowboy can ride a bear and giant snakes harbor thousands of tinier snakes. There's also a great sense of humor here, which goes hand in hand with the ridiculousness of the book. I found myself laughing at least once every page.

The art also suits the book really well; it's fun and cartoon-y. I'm used to first issues looking a little awkward since the artist usually hasn't gotten too used to drawing the characters yet, but right here everything's great. It also speaks levels of the artist that he can do so much with such simplistic face designs; you can tell what the characters feel and think just by looking at them.

All in all, this was a great first issue. If I had one criticism, it's that this is technically a reprint the with the first three issues of the series available on the book's website (issue 4 is sold out, sadly). That being said, reprinting through Image is a fantastic way of getting the title out there for more readers to try. It's also a great title for both older and younger readers, which is always a great thing in an industry so caught up in stuff that caters to older audiences.

Verdict: READ IT!

The Intrepids #4

Writer: Curtis J Wiebe

Artist: Scott Kowalchuk

Colorist: Donna Gregory

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Another great new title from Image is The Intrepids, a tale of youngsters with unique talents guided by a scientist named Dante. Their mission? Stop mad scientists like the evil Doctor Koi. It's a bit like the James Bond meets the X-men and it's blast to read. Much like Reed Gunther, this is a fun read, though this title is a bit darker.

This issue our heroes find themselves unsure of their mentor and theirs a bit of tension in their ranks. Our fearless leader, Crystal, isn't sure that Dante is being completely honest. Genius inventor Chester, however, believes that they should all be grateful and trust Dante. It's a nice little scene that doesn't eat up too much time and it provides a bit more depth for Chester's character. Of course this issue isn't all bickering and character moments; we get a few pages of super espionage.

Mr. Kowalchuk's art is great, too. I think the thing I appreciate most is that his women look like women in this line of work should. He's also got a real distinct look to his work. It doesn't look much like anything else I've ever seen and that's a great thing. I'd also do a disservice to not mention these lovely covers. Mr. Kowalchuk does a fantastic job of making overs that feel like classic comic book covers. I absolutely love it.

Overall, this is some good comic book. If you haven't picked it up yet, give it a try.

Verdict: READ IT!

Super Dinosaur #2

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Jason Howard

Letterer: Rus Wooton

If you read comics, you should know the name of Robert Kirkman. He's the guy who created The Walking Dead and Invincible, two of Image's best selling titles. Both are also pretty gruesome and definitely aren't for kids. Well now he's got a title that is for kids: Super Dinosaur! Super Dinosaur is the the story of Derek Dynamo and his best pal Super Dinosaur as they wage war on Max Maximus and his corrupted Dinos. This series is pure fun and you should give it a try. While it's a kid's title on the surface, there's enough meat in the story for older readers to get enjoyment out of it, too. Also, it has a Dinosaur with robot arms, which is automatically great. The only real issue here is that the dialog can be a bit off at times, and there was one moment that felt like it was a toy advertisement. Outside of that, though, everything here is a-okay.

Verdict: READ IT!

Gladstone's School for World Conquerors #1

Writer: Mark A. Smith

Artist: Armand Villavert

Colorist: Carlos Carrasco

Letterer: Fenografiks

Gladstone's School for World Conquerors #1 is a comic about the students of the world's greatest school for super villainry. The story follows Kid Nefarious and his friends Martian Jones, Mummy Girl, and Ghost Girl as they attend the school in hopes of one day becoming super villains. But not is all as it seems as it looks like Super Heroes and Super Villains, much like Pro Wrestling, predetermine their fights ahead of time. This is a really great concept for a comic that is pulled off really well. It's also pretty funny, with perhaps the funniest moment being the short introduction to the school's history in the beginning. Also. like Super Dinosaur and Reed Gunther, the title is a great book for kids.

Verdict: READ IT!

Nonplayer #1

Writer and Artist: Nate Simpson

Okay, so while all the Other titles today are really good stuff, Nonplayer is hands down the best of the bunch. It's also the only title that I wouldn't say is necessarily kid-friendly. I'm also a month late on this one, so I won't spend too much time telling you how good it is when just about everyone else out there has been freaking out over it. Heck, it sold out it's first week on shelves and I had to wait for the second printing. Anyways, this is a comic about an MMO and it's pretty awesome. But as awesome as the story is, the art is what steals the show on this one. Perhaps the best part about the art is that I can't tell if it's CG or not and that it actually works so well; I usually hate static CG images, but here it's breathtakingly beautiful. Mr. Simpson has really created something awesome here and I feel so bad only giving it a short review, but I'm pretty sure you've all read this or read about it by now. There's nothing to really tell you other than asking "Isn't this awesome?"

Verdit: READ IT TWICE!

That's it for this week's indie books. I also think you should give Flashpoint #2 and Flashpoint: Batman: Kinght of Vengeance #1 a shot. I'm really digging Flashpoint so far and it looks like it's going to lead to a DC reboot, which I might just post about later tonight!

Flashpoint #1 Review

This week marks the beginning of DC's Flashpoint event. Written by Geoff Johns and featuring art from Andy Kubert, this is a book that looks to do for the Flash what the Sinestro Corps War did for Green Lantern. And considering how crazy good and event the Sinestro Corps War was, this book has a lot to live up to.

Right off the bat, we're hurled into the situation with Barry Allen waking up to find that his world has been rocked. He's no longer got his powers, he's no longer married to Iris West, and oh yeah, Superman and the Justice League no longer exists. This is a world where Europe has been ravaged by a war between Atlantis and Themyscira. Aquaman and Wonder Woman are tyrants. Batman is a murderer. Captain Cold is Citizen Cold, hero of Central. This is not the world Barry knows. And it is this world and it's introduction in this issue that will have me coming back for Flashpoint #2.

This is a great issue because it does a great job of introducing us to this broken world. And this is a world I want to know about, because it's pretty exciting. Take the Batman of this world, for example, who for the most part is the focus character in this issue. In many ways he's the same dark, brooding protector of Gotham that we know and love. But then he tosses a criminal he's trying to interrogate off of a building after she refuses to tell him what he wants to know. He's a very darker, angrier Batman. I think the most intriguing thing about him is his identity; that is something you'll have to find out for yourself, but it's the thing that's got me the most excited about this version of the character.

It doesn't hurt that this issue Andy Kubert's art, either. It makes this issue look mighty fine. One moment in particular, the scene where Barry realizes that he's no longer the Flash, was particularly nice. The sequence of Barry falling down the steps was a great play on the usual Flash panels where you see him doing cool stuff while running. There's also the two page splash where Cyborg introduces the team he wants to assemble to battle Aquaman and Wonder Woman. It's a great ensemble of the characters in this book and while it isn't especially exciting, it is really good looking.

Still, I'm not completely sold on this series yet. We've been introduced to this awesome little world, but now we need to have something happen in that world. Barry Allen has a challenge to overcome and hopefully that ends up. But what worries me is that the lead up to this point, the Flashpoint Prelude from the main Flash book, was boring and drawn out much too long. It could have easily been told in one or two issues less than it was. That's the kind of drawn out, decompressed story telling that can kill an event outright. And Johns suffered that kind of problem with Blackest Night. Still, with only five issues to fill up I'm a little optimistic that this can work. Give Flashpoint #1 a shot; you won't regret it.

The Verdict: READ IT.

The 2010 Round-Up: Piggy's Favorite Things! Part One: Comics

So it's December and the end of the year is here. 2010 was a heck of a year for comics as the big two look on the bright side with "Brightest Day" and "Heroic Age" banners showing up on their titles. Meanwhile, Batman was lost in time, Atomic Robo's roster of bad guys shot up, a cop with an axe brought out everyone's inner child, and so much more happened. So here's my list of my favorite stuff from this year in comic.

Favorite Marvel Books:

Atlas and Thunderbolts by Jeff Parker:

If there's one thing that the Heroic Age taught me, it's that Jeff Parker is great at writing team books. In Atlas, he gave us a team the literal revels in it's comic book-y-ness as a Chinese man, a Martian, a Goddess, an Atlantean, a Robot, and a Gorilla teamed up with the 3-D man to kick ass. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, but it got a proper ending and maybe we'll see them again some day. Of course, Mr. Parker did find success with the Thunderbolts, where he made Luke Cage the leader of Marvel's rotating hero team of villains. Month in and month out the book is a genuine joy to read and it's only getting better from here. If any issue in particular takes the cake, it's easily the 150th issue; heroes clashed, a frog guy made me laugh, Iron Man and Captain Rogers got to settle things with their would be killers (Ghost and Crossbones), and Luke Cage learned that maybe this team isn't as bad off as it could be. So with the future in site, I'm glad to say that I'm sticking with this series for the long run.

Amazing Spider-Man by Dan Slott, Fred Van Lente, Mark Waid, Zeb Wells, and Joe Kelly

Amazing Spider-Man has been a damn good book since late 2008, but for me the book really hit a high this year as "The Gauntlet" came out and showed us just how awesome Spider-Man's gallery of bad guys can be. Stories that stand out the most include Joe Kelly's heart breaking Rhino story as well as his unbelievably awesome "Grim Hunt" story that brought back Kraven the Hunter and held several twists and turns that just blew me away. And of course there was the ending to Brand New Day, "Origin of Species" in which Mark Waid told a tale of Spider-Man fighting to protect the child of Lilly Hollister, otherwise known as "Menace". But perhaps the best story arc of the bunch is Zeb Wells fantastic "SHED" storyline, where the Lizard showed us just how scary he can truly be. Together he and Chris Bachalo showed us just how savage and chilling Kurt Connor's inner beast could be. And of course there's Dan Slott, who's taking charge of the book now with "Big Time" which promises to take the web slinger higher and farther than ever before. If you want to jump on and enjoy the Wall crawler, then now is a better time than ever, because the next year is looking to be truly great.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger by Robert Langridge and Chris Samnee

If you aren't reading Thor: The Mighty Avenger, than you really suck at choosing which comics to read. You're also not alone, because a whole lot of people aren't reading it and that's a damn shame. See Marve's "God of Thunder" got a revamp from Langridge and Samnee and it's actually the best book the company has put out this year. It's also selling so poorly that it's getting cancelled just 4 issues short of completing the full story that the team had initially set out to tell. But enough about that, let's talk about how awesome this book was. Thor: TMA is a book that is made of pure love and joy and it's such a good read every time it comes out. Thor himself is a young, headstrong god struggling to understand why he's been banished, but learning to love the world he's been exiled to through his relationship with Jane Foster. It's a story of love in the guise of a super hero book, unfortunately it's also one that's doomed to have a tragically untold ending. Meanwhile Deadpool has six goddamned comic book on the shelves right now; what the hell does that say?

Assault on New Olympus, Hercules: Fall of an Avenger, Prince of Power, and Chaos War by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente

As this year began, Hercules was left for dead on an alternate earth by his sister Athena so that Amadeus Cho could become her champion. Amadeus Cho then decided that he wasn't going to accept that and set out the bring the big guy back. He succeeded, but then the Chaos King decided to wipe out all of existence. With all the heroes left helpless, Herc has assembled a God Squad to take down the Chaos King and save all of existence. So how was your year again? Yes, Mr. Pak and Mr. Van Lente have had quite a year writing the Hell out of there books and with each one they manage to one up the awesome factor of the story that came before it. Sure, you could read Mr. Pak's Hulk, but this is really where it's all at. Although I'm sure Mr. Pak wouldn't mind if you read his Hulk anyway.

Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis

If you read any of Bendis' books this year that isn't Scarlet, then read Ultimate Spider-Man, because the man is still tearing it up on this book. And this year he hit the 150 mark. 150 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man and the man's still not done yet. This year the wall crawler has had friends move in, he's had to help Rick Jones come to term with his newly gained powers, and he's met twin Chameleons who have torn apart the great image he's had ever since he managed to survive the Ultimatum Wave. As this year ends, he's finding out that he's going to be receiving training from various members of the Ultimates so that he can learn to do superhero-ing the proper way. And coming up in the next year is "The Death of Spider-Man" storyline that hopefully doesn't kill off the Ultimate version of the web slinger and will be pitting the Ultimates against the Ultimate Avengers. I'd be more nervous about this story, but it's an Ultimate book being written by Bendis and Millar, so we could be doing worse.

Favorite DC Books:

Justice League: Generation Lost by Judd Winick

If you told me a year ago that I'd be in love with a book by Judd Winick, I'd laugh at you, but Justice League: Generation Lost has me eating a slice of humble pie. Winick has reunited the JLI and set them against Max Lord who has in return set the World against the JLI. From truly cool stuff, such as Captain Atom taking trips to a nightmarish future and Booster Gold taking a step into the leadership position, to the hilarious new Rocket Red, this is the Justice League book that everyone should be reading.

Action Comics and Knight and Squire by Paul Cornell

Paul Cornell wasn't a name that made me buy comics before this year, but now it's a name that will make me read anything. It all started when he began writing Action Comics, a title I hadn't read at all before he hopped on, but with the premise of a book about Lex Luthor tickling my fancy I had to give the title a shot. Now, about six issues and an annual later, this might just be my favorite book from DC this year. From wild dream battles with Mr. Mind, to Lex brushing off a frustrated Vandal Savage who wants to trap and kill Luthor, to Gorilla Grodd fighting with a giant spoon, Mr. Cornell has turned the insanity and fun up to 11 and made this book the must read book of the Superman title.

Of course Action Comics isn't the only title Mr. Cornell is writing, as he's currently writing both Knight and Squire and Batman and Robin, but since I'm going to be writing about Batman and Robin later, Knight and Squire will have to do for right now. Knight and Squire is what happens when you take a concept and have fun with it; Mr. Cornell has taken this British version of Batman and Robin and turned them into the BBC version of the Adam West/Burt Ward team from the old TV show. This book is silly, fun, funny, and also a little informative. Sure it's hard to understand what they're saying half the time, but that's just part of the charm. Yes, between these two books, there is no way you're not having fun in the DCU!

Batman 700-702,Batman and Robin, and Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne by Grant Morrison

This year, Grant Morrison wrapped up the huge Batman epic that he's spent the last 4 years telling. He took on the ultimate evil and won, then he got lost in time, then his predecessor turned his evil assassin son into the new Robin, and then he managed to come back from being lost in time just in time to help the new Dynamic Duo take out the ultimate evil, again. Grant's been a busy guy telling the story he has to tell and it's payed off in all the right ways. Bruce Wayne has been a cave man, a pirate, a witch hunter, and even the detective trying to solve his own death. He even became a weapon that Darkseid had planned to use to to destroy time itself, but he managed to undo that. Dr. Hurt faced him at multiple points in time, but again and again Bruce bested him, setting a trap for him that even Hurt couldn't see coming. He showed us why he's one of DC's big three and he did so in such a satisfying way. If you haven't been reading Morrison's Batbooks, than you're insane because they're just that damn good. And with Batman Incorporated just starting up, it's not too late to jump on and see why everyone loses their mind every time these titles come out.

Secret Six by Gail Simone

Secret Six is a title that doesn't stand out that much as a comic book. It isn't the book everyone raves about or the title that everyone tells you to read. That being said, it's a book that you should be reading. Much like the T-Bolts, this is a team composed to bad guys trying to do good things. Not at all like the T-Bolts, this team is led by someone who isn't necessarily a hero. No, this is a team of broken, crazy, complex characters led by Bane, that character that went from being a mastermind Batman villain to a shadow of his former self in the 90s. The fact that Bane is such a great character in this book is just one of the reasons that Gail Simone's Secret Six is one of the best comics that DC is putting out right now.

And it isn't just Bane that's written well; Catman, Scandal Savage, Ragdoll, Jeanette, Deadshot, and Black Alice are all fantastically written characters that keep me coming back each and every issue wanting to see what they team's got in store for me next. Two issues in particular (both one-shots) stand out in particular as really great issues; one has the team captured and sent to an island to face off against some rich jerks and the other has the team re-imagined in the old west preparing to face off against Ragdoll's sister and Slade Wilson. Both are fantastic issues that will be able to sell anyone on this series. And then there's the recently run story where the team has split into two and end up having to face each other in an alternate dimension resembling Marvel's Savage Land where they fight each other wearing loin clothes and riding on Dinosaurs. Yes, it's that awesome.

Favorite Books From Everyone Else:

Darkwing Duck (Boom!Kids) by Ian Brill and James Silvani

Boom!Kids is the little line that could, which is to say that it's the best thing to happen to all ages comics in the last decade. Every book is awesome and the best of the bunch is Darkwing Duck. This book successfully brings the "Disney Afternoon" character back in all of his duck glory. With writer Ian Brill nailing the wit, heart, and joy of the character and artist James Silvani brings art that is so good that you'll never want to look away. This is easily the best looking book that this line has put out and it's easily one of the top 5 best looking books of this year, period. Actually, it's easily one of my top 5 favorite books, period.

Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour (OniPress) by Bryan Lee O'Malley

The story of Scott Pilgrim came to an end this year with the 6th and final book in the series and it's easily one of my favorite books of the year. Scott starts this volume out alone and broken after Ramona left him and he was forced to move into his own apartment by himself. He quickly finds himself revisiting each of his past loves and finding out that maybe he wasn't the best boyfriend in the world, let alone a good person in general. Plots are resolved, secrets are revealed, and Gideon Graves finally gets what he's got coming. This is a story about love that's a little more mature than it seems and it ends with two people learning that they're going to have to work together to make it work out.

Atomic Robo Volume 4 (Red5 Studio) by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener

Okay, if you know me at all than this selection shouldn't be any sort of surprise. Atomic Robo is easily my favorite comic book being printed today and I find myself giddy like a school girl for each and every new issue as they come out. That's why I'm glad to say that Volume 4 is the best volume in the series yet. The story revolves around 4 different one-shot issues that all take place within a span of a week, but each and every consecutive incident involves yet another strange foe that highlights just how crazy and wonderful this book is. From Vampires from a different dimension, to a giant Japanese monster not unlike something out of a Kaiju movie, to other enemies such as Dr. Dinosaur and the ghost of Thomas Edison. Each issue stands alone fantastically on it's own, but together it does wield a fantastic story that builds upon the world of Robo in one way or another. It also successfully highlights why I love this book; it's a fantastically hilarious sci-fi action comedy book that takes place in a wonderful world of action science, talking dinoaurs, and just about anything the imagination can think of.

Axe Cop (Axecop.com/Dark Horse) by Ethan and Malachai Nicolle

At the tail end of last year, Axe Cop popped up out of nowhere and took the internet by storm; this comic, made by the brothers Nicolle (Ethan (age 29) and Malachai (age 6)) who have crafted one of the most insanely comics of this year. The process of making this comic is simple: Malachai comes up with a bunch of randomly awesome details and plot points and Ethan puts it all together in a coherent enough fashion and draws it all so that he may put it up on the internet. Almost overnight the whole thing became a huge hit, with everyone falling in love with the genuinely childish nature of the book. Axe Cop is comic book equivalent of how you used to play with your action figures when you were a young child and for that I love it. And I'm not alone, as the title has gained enough fame that Ethan himself is putting off the release of the comic he had originally intended to put out in favor of working on this and Dark Horse Comics has decided to work with Ethan in order to publish the web series as well as publishing a completely original 3 issue mini series. If you aren't reading this, go now. It's free on the web and it features a T-Rex with Gatling guns for arms. Seriously, go read it. Now.

Sweet Tooth (Veritgo) by Jeff Lemire

Sweet Tooth is easily one of the best comics coming out right now, and though I've currently dropped the ongoing in favor of trades, I haven't given up on this title. This story of a young Deer boy and his protector in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is almost wiped out is a fantastic book. Jeff Lemire has crafted a dark sad world where people must lie, steal, cheat, and maybe even kill to survive, where young animal children are hated for existing and find themselves being experimented on in the name of science. It's a great read, though, an it's definitely something anyone looking for a darker, more mature comic out there to read that isn't just a bunch of muscle riddled jerks flying around and punching each other.

The Unwritten (Vertigo) by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

The Unwritten is another Vertigo book that I'm reading exclusively in trade. It's also a fantastic story about a boy who's father turned into an internationally famous character in a series of Harry Potter like books. The story starts as a mystery about whether Thomas is actually the Tommy Taylor from the famous books or not, but quickly turns into a terrific journey throughout all of literature in general. The first two volumes are out now with the third coming next march, though it your feeling up to it, you can also pick it up in individual issues so that you're not left waiting too long for your fix.

So there we go, folks. That's my pics for my favorite comics of the year. Each one is a fantastic read in it's own right, so do yourself a favor and read them all. You won't be sorry. For part two, I'm going to be covering my favorite animated stuff from the last year, which includes cartoons from TV, movies, anime, and everything in between. Part three is going to be Movies and TV. Part Four will probably come in the new year and it will be Video Games. It's going to take that long so that I can get all my Christmas games played enough that I can actually talk about them with some experience under my belt. I might even do a Part 1.5 where I highlight individual one-shot issues that I loved and just what's so great about them as well as a Part 5 about Podcasts and music that I've come to enjoy this year. So look out for all of that coming soon. When the New Year hits I'm going to try and find some other things to talk about before I get back to doing weekly comic reviews. I really want to wait for some newer stuff to hit before I do more reviews. I'll definitely be reviewing the next volume of Fullmetal Alchemist when that comes out. So there. I've put all this out there, let's hope I can get all of this out.

The (Very Late) Weekly Round-Up: 11/10/10

Hey there loyal readers! I had a wedding to help prepare for and then go to last week, so I wasn't going to do last week's Weekly Round-Up. Then I got my comics for this week and holy crap was there some awesome stuff. Not talking about everything this week, but I will cover the 4-way tie for my issue of the week. Each one is a great book and each one is worth the cover price on the front.

If I had to pick one book of the four, I think Amazing Spider-Man #648 would take the spot for various reasons. For one thing, It's a huge comic: the main story is 39 pages with an 8 page back-up to go along with it. For $4 there aren't many other comics that pack that much of a value. And it's not just a great value, it's easily the best one-shot Spider-Man story of the year. And that's counting those Rhino issues ( #617 and #626 if I remember correctly) which were both amazing issues.

The main story is actually two stories in one, but each one centers around the idea of Peter Parker (in both personas) going "Big Time". The first half centers around Spider-Man and the his teammates from the Avengers working together to face off against Doctor Octopus' army of "Macro-Octobots" from destroying New York City. The next part focuses on Pete's non-heroing life, with his roomate Michele moving back to Chicago and Pete looking to get his living arrangements figure out. While the second half isn't nearly as action packed as the first, it does a great job of introducing us to the supporting cast of the book.

For people staying on the book it's nothing major, but for people just hopping on, there's a lot that's changed since Brand New Day began and there are a few more changes that happen by the end of the story. One big change is Pete's new job as a scientist at Horizon Labs, which is described as both an Apple Store and Willy Wonka's Factory mixed togther and "Pixar meets The Baxter Building". The overall story also does a great job of building on upcoming plotlines, such as the reformed Sinister Six (Doc Ock, Rhino, Mysterio, Electro, Chameleon, and Sandman) putting a huge plan together and the Kingpin hiring the Hobgoblin to steal an experimental replacement for Vibranium being made by Horizon Labs. Combine all of this with the delicious art stylings of Humberto Ramos and you've got one hell of an issue, with a nice back-up featuring Spider-Girl, who's about to get an ongoing of her own. This is a hell of an issue and easily a must read for fans of Spidey.

Atomic Robo is also out this week, with the first issue of the 5th volume of the series "Atomic Robo and the Dangerous Art of Science". This issue takes us back to the 1930's, where Robo is still living with Tesla. What's awesome about this issue is we get to see a very different Robo than the one we're used to: in the first four volumes, we've gotten to know the Robo who was an "Action Scientist" who takes on Nazis, Lovecraftian monsters, and talking genius Raptors. Here, we get to see a younger Robo who's not nearly as focused. His fanboyish naivety over getting to see a masked man taking on mobsters is comedy gold. We're also going to see a bit more of the feud between Robo and his greatest enemy, Thomas Edison, which will be so awesome. It's a bit of a surprise to have it back so soon, I'm used to having almost a year between volumes, but it's good to have it back on my stack and I'm looking forward to seeing what Clevinger and Wegener have in store for us in the next few issues. And as usual, there's a few of those delicious Robo pin-ups from other artists that usually populate the back of the issue, though I'm sad to see the lack of a cool back-up story. Those are usually really fun to have.

Knight and Squire #2 is also out this week and it's a great read. If I had to describe this title, I think the best way is like this: Knight and Squire is what you'd get if the BBC had mad the old Adam West Batman show from the 60's. This issue we has the Dynamic Duo of the UK facing off against The Morris Men, a group of men looking to make England a place for the wealthy, straight, white man. The issue is a blast, with a mix of British charm and campy goodness that mix together just right. Now, I do have to warn you: if you aren't very familiar with British people talking, you're not going to understand a third of the dialog in this book. Cornell does a good job of explaining a good bit of it all with a short entry in the back explaining most of it for those who aren't familiar with Morris Men and even point out a few of the inspirations for some of the things going on in the issue itself. And for what you miss in dialog, the book makes up for in humor. One moment in particular, where Knight and Squire steal some disguises off of a pair of guards had me laughing out loud until my ribs hurt. If you're even remotely a fan of Batman and the idea of the Club of Heroes, then definitely pick this issue up.

And lastly, the 4th book tying for my "issue of the week" is Justice League: Generation Lost. This issue was the first thing I read this week and it's still the one that hit me the hardest. This issue has Magog facing off against Captain Atom in one huge smack down. It's one hell of a showdown with an ending that made me say "Oh $#!%" before putting down the book to take in what just happened. Before this series I was skeptical of Winick. After this issue I can now say that I take back anything I may have said about the man's writing. This is a fantastic read and a chilling issue. Max Lord is back and Judd Winick is showing us just how much of a crazy, evil, magnificent bastard he is. If you're looking for a Justice League book to read, this is the one you should be reading. This is the best new series from DC this year and if you haven't begun reading it yet, then go pick up the back issues or preorder the trades, because no one should be missing this.

And that's it for this week. 4 books that you should be reading, each one earning my choice as "issue of the week". Come back tomorrow or Thursday for this week's books, because Batman Incorporated is starting up and it's gonna be awesome!

The Weekly Round-Up: 11/3/10

Howdy-ho, girls and boys, it's The Weekly Round-Up! I took last week off for Halloween or in other words, I decided to be lazy last week and couldn't be bothered to write one paragraph of review for the comics I bought last week. But hey, this week I decided to grace all ten of you readers with my presence! Now then, onto the reviews, because this week has some awesome choices.

If I had to pick a winner for "Best Cover of the Week" It'd hands down go to this book right here, Superboy #1. That's right, the composite clone of Superman and Lex Luthor is getting a series of his own (because Adventure Comics couldn't have been that at all, right DC?) and Jeff Lemire and Pier Gallo are ready to take him to new heights. Lemire, for those of you unfamiliar, is the writer behind the fantastic Vertigo book "Sweet Tooth" which is simply amazing. I'd talk about it more often, but I'm only buying it in trade these days and I'm a good deal behind on those. But enough about Lemire's other works, let's talk Superboy!

This issue is a first issue, which means it's introduction time. For an introduction to Superboy, this does it's job pretty damn well. Lemire also does a good job of picking up some of the cool elements of the Johns run from Adventure Comics run by introducing us to the two friends Connor made in that; Lori Luthor Lex's niece and Simon Valentine, boy scientist. It's nice to see that Lemire is not forgetting those two characters, because I liked them both in the 5 issues we got to meet them in and I'm really looking forward to what Lemire has in store for them. There's also a cool little fight between Superboy and Parasite that rounds out the issue and we end with a teaser at what's to come from this book in the future. Lemire is off to an interesting start here.

Art duties are handeled buy Pier Gallo and he does a great job with that. Smallville looks like a small farm town and Superboy and the other inhabitants are all drawn very well. And it's not all just pretty stuff, Parasite looks as gross and monstrous as he should. Still, the real star on art duties is the cover by one of my current favorites in the world of comic art, Rafael Albuquerque. Albuquerque's art combined with those amazing colors just make it stick right out on the shelf and makes me want to pick it up and own it.

So go buy Superboy today, because it's an awesome start to a promising book. But that's not the only thing I bought today!

Best value of the week goes to Amazing Spider-Man #647, which is the final curtain call for Brand New Day's revolving door of writers. Everyone contributes to this one and for 5 dollars you get a whole buttload of comic. So what's the good stuff here? Well first off is "Another Door" by Fred Van Lente with Max Fiumara on art. This is pretty much the primary wrap up story of BND. We've got Vin returning from his prison time, Harry starting his new life as a dad, and Carlie and Pete finally becoming a couple. It's a pretty good story and wraps everything up pretty well while also giving a decent amount of Spidey action, but it's far from the best story here.

The best story in this collection has to be "Norah's Last Night in NYC" written by Joe Kelly with J.M.Ken Nimura on art duties. these two also provided a fun little back up story at the beginning of The Gauntlet, and they're best known collaboration is the fantastic Image comic "I Kill Giants". Well here they come back together to weave yet another fantastically heartwarming tale about Pete's good friend Norah, who is apparently leaving New York to go back "home". when she doesn't give Pete the real reason he decides that maybe it's time for Spider-Man to show up and give a hand. Hilarity and heartwarming goodness ensues. While I'm looking forward to the Dan Slott "Big Time" era, it's stories like this that is really going to make me miss the wonderful adventure that was "Brand New Day". Hopefully this isn't the last time we're gonna be seeing Kelly handle Spider-Man because he's been one of my favorite writers on the book in the last year. And then there's Mr. Nimura who has only gotten to do 2 small stories for this book, which makes me sad because his stuff is outstanding. I really look forward to seeing what this team puts out next.

The only grip I have with this issue is that they do one of those cover galleries where all the covers are tiny to the point where you wonder what the point is. I don't want to look at tiny little thumbnails of these covers, I want these things big and beautiful as they should be! Overall, though, this is a great way to send off the "Brand New Day" team and while it's no ASM #600 it's still a great issue.

Speaking of the end of one story before a the beginning of something bigger, Batman and Robin #16 comes out this week and Grant Morrison ends his run on the book with a bang. Bruce Wayne is back and he's ready to lay the hurt onto Dr. Hurt. What's really cool here is that we're getting to see the first interactions between the Dick/Damian Batman and Robin team and Bruce. It doesn't last long because Bruce has to face off with Hurt while Dick and Damian head off to stop Professor Pyg. The two fights are great, with the duties being split between Cameron Stewart and Frazier Irving. While the two styles are definitely very different, both work equally as well as the other. This is a great way to send off this run. Batman Incorporated is just around the corner, which is the next chapter of Morrison's insanely awesome Batman run and we've got Paul Cornell stepping in for three issues on this book before Tomasi and Gleason step in to take over on this book. So I think it goes without saying that big things are coming on this title and that you better get ready for it.

Before we continue with this week, let's travel back in time to the land of last week. Halloween hadn't yet happened, the Giants weren't World Champs yet, and Hellboy and the Beasts of Burden teamed up for what was definitely the best comic of last week. That's right, Mike Mignola, Evan Dorkin, and Jill Thompson have teamed up to bring Dark Horse's best paranormal investigators together and the two go together better than chocolate and peanut butter! This book is scary, funny, creepy, adorable, and ass-kickingly awesome. Hellboy gets lost after helping some Amish people out and ends up in the BoB's world, where the two end up working together to put a stop to an evil soul and the crazy bag lady who is dedicated to bringing him back to life. Oh, and it's all rendered beautifully thanks to Jill Thompson's amazing art. So go out and pick this issue up, because it's great. And when you're done with it, go pick up the Beasts of Burden Hardcover!

Back in the present, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente continue on their awesome Hercules run with Chaos War #3. Herc has his team of heroes assembled and he's ready to take on the Chaos King and his army of dead gods and heroes. This issue has some really great stuff going on, from Herc getting to share a touching moment with his dad, to the Chaos King getting ever closer to completing his goal of total annihilation of everything. With one issue left to go I can't help but wonder what this story has left in store for us and if this is it for the Pak/Van Lente Hercules extravaganza. It'd be a great way for this run to end no doubt, but these two are tearing it up so well that I'll be sad to see it go.

And that's it for what I have to talk about this week. Still not enough for ya? Well then do yourself a favor and pick up Iron Man/Thor by Abnett and Lanning, Secret Six by Gail Simone, and Strange Tales. As for me, I'm out. See you next week!