Category Archives: Comics
Review: Teen Titans #5
This Teen Titans comic is pretty much the antithesis of everything I like in comics these days. Books like Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye and Batgirl are breaking new ground on how superhero stories can be told, with real human characters, real human drama and actual creativity in their storytelling. Batgirl, for example, embraces the modern day world of its youthful character, sending Barbara Gordon spinning into a world of Internet hookups, auto-tuned bad guys and real stakes. Ms. Marvel stars a teenager who is just as much in touch with her family as she is with superheroics, and actually has to worry about both. Hawkeye is mostly interested in the man behind the mask.
Teen Titans #5
Whereas Teen Titans is content to be just a dumb superhero comic where the characters are only really concerned about being superheroes. Not even an art change or the promise of a new character can save Teen Titans #5 from just being generally dull.
Comic Rating: 5/10 – Alright.
I said this before in my last review, but it bears repeating: what is so difficult about writing a story that’s actually about the Teen Titans themselves? The previous writer, Scott Lobdell, never managed to do it, and new writer Will Pfiefer likewise can’t seem to focus on his teen stars. It’s not like they’re a boring group! This is actually a pretty solid roster of Titans. They have the potential for some really interesting mix-ups. Beast Boy and Bunker have a neat friendship/roommate thing going. And why haven’t we heard a peep about the Red Robin/Wonder Girl romance since Pfiefer took over? Raven, meanwhile, doesn’t have any strong relationships with anyone on the team.Why not tackle some of these legitimately interesting topics?
Instead, Pfiefer introduces some of the most laziest super-villains I’ve ever read for one of the laziest superhero fights I’ve ever read. Does he not care? Does he not want Teen Titans to be a good comic? Pfiefer backs off his pet character, Manchester Black, for a little bit, but he doesn’t replace him with the Teen Titans. He replaces him with a gaggle of spoiled rich kids who take a designer drug that gives them super-powers. Is there anything more unimaginative? Then these idiots literally fall into the Titans’ laps. That’s how the heroes of this comic book get involved. The rich kids decide to fight established superheroes for no reason other than it’s a thing to do, and we have a comic.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been more disappointed in this comic. Or maybe I’m not disappointed so much as just tired. I’m tired of Teen Titans failing.
Join me after the jump for the full synopsis and more review!
My 6 Favorite Things of 2014
Attention young people who read my blog, let me make one thing perfectly clear: when adults say that time flies when you’re older, they are 100% right! Jeez louise, I can’t believe 2014 is already over! Where the heck did the year go? How did I get this old?! What the heck did I do with myself?
All griping aside, how about we look back and share our favorite things form 2014?
I’ve known better years
The problem with that, however, is that I can’t really remember everything I did in 2014! I have no idea what I was into last March! That was a forever ago (even though it feels like only yesterday). Was there anything to enjoy in 2014? Or was it just one big slog of depression? If you join me after the jump, we can find out together!
And Just Like That, I’m Totally in Favor of Marvel’s New Inhuman Policy
There has been a lot of talk about the Inhumans recently, and for good reason. For one thing, they’re going to get their own big budget movie in 2018 as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For another thing, there has long been a rumor that Marvel wants to reposition the Inhumans in their comic book universe to take over for the X-Men, because FOX Studios owns the rights to the X-Men movies, and Marvel wants to find a way around that.
For the longest time, I thought this was a ridiculous idea. I’ve never been an Inhumans fan, and I thought it was just silly for Marvel to force them down our throats just to get their way and spite FOX.
But after watching the mid-season finale for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and reading Axis #7, my normally curmudgeony mind has been altered! It’s as if I’ve personally undergone comic book Terrigenesis!
Even Blackbolt cheered when Skye shot that guy!
Consider me completely on board with Marvel’s new Inhumans policies and plans. I’m a huge fan of the X-Men, but right now, they are old news. The Inhumans are the way to go, and I can’t wait to see all of Marvel’s plans come to fruition!
What the heck am I talking about? Join me after the jump to see what I mean! Oh, and SPOILERS for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Axis and Avengers: Age of Ultron!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/13/14
By the time you read this, I still won’t have my Christmas or Hannukah shopping done. What can I say? I’m a terrible procrastinator. I’m frankly amazed that I’ve managed to keep these reviews on time for the past few years. But don’t you fret, henchies, the various important people in my life will definitely be getting presents! I think the Steam Winter Sale is coming up…
If only I could hand out comic books as presents, but the only other person in my family who reads comics is my brother, and we share the ones I buy anyway. So I’m stuck just reading these comics without anyone to give them to for the holidays! Fortunately, December could be a very good month, with new issues of Amazing Spider-Man and Thor, and the debut of Bitch Planet by Kelly Sue DeConnick!
Comic Book of the Week goes to one of my personal favorite comics right now, Batgirl, for another fantastic issue! This book is making waves, people! Wonderful, surf-worthy waves!
Elsewhere on the Internet, you can check out my review of Spider-Man and the X-Men #1. It’s…weird. Obviously things would have to change with Wolverine being dead and all, but I didn’t expect such a major shift towards silliness. But hey, maybe silliness is your thing!
Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #11, Batgirl #37, Batman Eternal #36, Bitch Planet #1 and Thor #3.
Gamer Girl & Vixen – Designing the Characters
Superhero costumes are a big deal, and rarely have they been so artistically beautiful. From Spider-Gwen to the new Batgirl, comic book artists these days are producing some truly stellar new costumes. I hope I’ll be that creative some day.
My competition!
So what the heck was I supposed to do in designing my own superhero for my upcoming indie comic, Gamer Girl & Vixen? I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have much of an artistic eye. The most I can do is doodle, and even that is pretty haphazard at best. Still, a lack of insight is not a reason to give up. You can’t be afraid to just go ahead and create, so that’s what I did!
Fortunately for me, I’ve had a lot of help thanks to some very talented artists. As part of the ongoing blog series into the making of my new comic, join me after the jump for a behind-the-scenes look at how Kristi and I came up with the characters and the costumes of Gamer Girl and Vixen! Read the rest of this entry
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