Category Archives: Comics
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 7/30/16
I was looking over my pile of comics this week to pick out what to review, and I was struck by a really cool realization: most of the comics in my pile star women! There was once a time, not too long ago, when female-led comics were few and far between. Oh how far we’ve come. So in honor of the first ever female major party candidate for U.S. President, this Hench-Sized Comic Book Review pile is dedicated to awesome superhero ladies!
We’ve got your Batgirl, your Harley Quinn, your Pink Power Ranger, your Wonder Woman, your Squirrel Girl, your Ms. Marvel; just a cavalcade of awesome female superheroes! And each and every issue is a blast! I feel almost guilty for all the good grades I’ve given everybody.
Comic Book of the Week goes to Batgirl #1, though it’s a hard choice to make. Most of the comics are mid-storyline, whereas the new Batgirl Rebirth relaunch nails the beginning and promises a nice new series.
Here’s one version of Batgirl ready to kick butt
As for some of my other regular titles, Detective Comics is great, with more Tim Drake awesomeness. The first issue of Nightwing Rebirth is solid, but leans too heavily on some dumb new antagonist. And the new issue of Civil War II is a solid reminder about why I should stop caring. I also read the new Captain Marvel, but it was kind of lame, so it didn’t make the cut for my all-women week.
Comic Reviews: Batgirl #1, Harley Quinn #30, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers – Pink #2, Mighty Thor #9, Ms. Marvel #9, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #10 and Wonder Woman #3.
Review: Teen Titans #22
Just…just put Teen Titans out of its misery already. Rebirth is well under way at DC Comics, with some great and note-worthy new titles. But for some reason, Rebirth won’t grace the Teen Titans for several months yet. For some reason, this comic is being forced to limp along and churn out meandering and uninteresting stories like this one. It makes no sense.
Comic Rating: 4/10 – Pretty Bad.
I don’t think we’re ever going to find a more perfect example of a comic book spinning its wheels. Teen Titans is running on fumes, and it makes absolutely no sense to me. Tony Bedard is a fine writer, and I love Ian Churchill as an artist, but they’ve got nothing to work with anymore. Is DC trying to let their adjectiveless Titans comic get a head start before relaunching Teen Titans? Nothing else makes sense.
Teen Titans as a brand is, arguably, one of DC’s most well-known properties. The Teen Titans have had a popular cartoon show ongoing for nearly a decade, with an entire generation of fans out there in the world. But Teen Titans the comic has been the biggest, ugliest blemish on the comics side. This was repeatedly named the worst comic of the New 52, but DC kept it going for the entire length of that imprint.
Now with Rebirth upon us with the promise of a completely clean slate, DC is only easing on the brakes and drawing out this title almost painfully. Bedard and Churchill do their workmanlike best, but what’s even the point anymore?
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 7/23/16
Hooray for Comic-Con! I’m sure there’s quite the party going down in San Diego. I haven’t been following the news too closely, but all manner of comic book stories, super duper movies and a bunch of trailers have been released so far. But none of that excuses us from reading new comics this week!
In honor of all the convention news, I read a whole buncha comics this week. I even went beyond Marvel and DC! We’ve got the new ongoing Faith series from Valiant, Power Rangers from BOOM! and Patsy Walker from Marvel! Sorry, that one always deserves a mention.
Comic Book of the Week goes to Astonishing Ant-Man #10! It was a tough call between Ant-Man and Patsy Walker, but I picked fun action adventure over heartfelt emotional drama. That’s not usually my style, but sometimes Ant-Man deserves a win.
They look properly scared
Though Patsy Walker was really good, too. Curses! Now I’m starting to rethink everything!
Comic Reviews: All-New Wolverine #10, Astonishing Ant-Man #10, Batman #3, Faith #1, Justice League #1, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #5, Patsy Walker a.k.a. Hellcat #8, and Spider-Man #9.
The 6 Characters in My Fantastic Four
Welcome to Comic-Con Week! The party is down in San Diego, but I’m still here in Central New York, doin’ my thang. Someday I’ll be at the big show, but until then, I’m gonna have some fun on my blog. In what has become a fun tradition here at Henchman-4-Hire, it’s time to pick a superhero dream team!
This year, I’m going to tackle the Fantastic Four! I’ve never been a diehard fan of the team, but I think I have some neat ideas. In the past, I’ve done the X-Men, Avengers, Justice League, Teen Titans, X-Force and even the Sinister Six. But today I’m all about the Four!
They will never have a good movie in my lifetime
You’d think the Fantastic Four list would be easy. Heck, you might even take umbrage with the fact that I’m making a List of SIX out of the Fantastic FOUR. Well, don’t worry, friends, because I think I’ve got some solid ideas. Unlike most superhero teams, the Fantastic Four rarely change their roster. They tend to stick with Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing. It’s a solid family dynamic and has served the comic well for decades. But every once and awhile, Marvel likes to shake-up the line-up and try some new stories.
If I was hired to write the Fantastic Four and had cart blanche to do and write whatever I wanted, this would be my Fantastic Four roster.
And feel free to join me in the comments with your own fantasy Fantastic Four!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 7/16/16
It is a dark day in comics, my friends. But not in the way Marvel probably wants me to think. But I’m not sure I have any idea what Marvel is thinking anymore. I don’t know what drives them. Is it sales? Is it controversy? Is it headlines? Because it’s definitely not storytelling, not anymore.
Civil War II #3 kind of breaks me. But not due to the story or the art. Not even due to the power behind the twist. It breaks me in that I just don’t know why I should care anymore…
Fortunately, this wee also brings us an excellent new issue of Power Man and Iron Fist, and I’m reminded why I care again. Hooray Comic Book of the Week!
Don’t forget Wolverine!
Somebody at Marvel is doing something good. I’m gonna stick with that part of Marvel.
Comic Reviews: Civil War II #3, Detective Comics #936, Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy #2, Nightwing Rebirth #1, Power Man and Iron Fist #6, and Wonder Woman #2.
Henchman-4-Hire 