Category Archives: Comics
Forgotten Characters: Miri Riam
Whatever happened to Star Sapphire Miri Riam?
How could DC comics create someone so utterly adorable and then drop her like a hot potato? Miri Riam was one of the funnest new characters to come out of the Green Lantern series in the past few years, a character with a lot of layers and a lot of potential to be a cool character. But after going to all the trouble to introduce her and build her up, DC hasn’t done squat with this manic pixie dream girl in the DCnU reboot. Why the heck not?
She’s adorable! And pink!
There are a lot of multi-colored Lanterns these days. Green Lanterns, Blue Lanterns, Red Lanterns, Orange Lanterns, and there have been a ton of new characters introduced alongside these different colors. Miri Riam was one of my favorites, but for some reason, DC doesn’t want to use her anymore, despite at least one series dedicated entirely to showcasing the various colored Lanterns. So where is Miri Riam? Why isn’t she filling our hearts with love anymore?
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 2/2/13
We’ve got a very good week of comics here, not a stinker in the bunch. Aquaman continues the Throne of Atlantis storyline while Green Lantern Corps ends the Third Army storyline. So big happenings there. We get our second dose of Superior Spider-Man and it’s not too bad. Heck, I even liked the latest issue of Avengers even though I’ve been lukewarm on the series so far. Same with Batman Incorporated. This is just a good week all around.
And coming in with the Comic Book of the Week win is Green Lantern Corps Annual #1, which hits us with a bombastic finale to the Third Army! Good show Green Lantern team! Though this is also a good week for solid Robin action. And we all know I love that.
Please don’t kill Alfred
Comic Reviews: Aquaman #16, Avengers #4, Batman Incorporated #7, Green Lantern Corps Annual #1, Hawkeye #7, Red Lanterns #16, Superior Spider-Man #2 and Talon #4.
Review: Teen Titans #16
I want Fabian Nicieza to take over Teen Titans on a full time basis. Make it happen, DC Comics. He just has a much better handle on these characters and what it takes to tell a good story than regular writer Scott Lobdell. The best issues of Teen Titans have all been penned by Nicieza, even if Lobdell was providing the plot. This issue is a perfect example. Lobdell has been writing a couple crummy additions to the Death of the Family story in both Teen Titans and Red Hood and the Outlaws. But this issue is a wonderful tie-in, pitting Red Robin and Red Hood against each other in an particularly devious plot by the Joker. And it was made even better by Nicieza’s firm grasp on Tim Drake’s inner monologue.
Teen Titans #16
This is a very good tie-in to Death of the Family, giving the two Reds a story that seems tailor-made to their places in the Bat-family. Tim Drake’s inner monologue is fantastic as he assesses and handles the threat. It really lets him shine as the series star.
Comic Rating: 4/5: Good!
I really like the friendship that has been building between Red Robin and Red Hood since the DCnU reboot. They’re really the odd men out in the Bat-family. Tim Drake, especially, hasn’t had much of a place in the world since Damian came in and stole his position as Robin. So the two of them teaming up definitely works, as does the idea that they get a more action-oriented battle with the Joker. There isn’t much psychology to mess with either of them, so the idea that the Joker pits them against each other in fisticuffs fits the characters. Their scenes are the best in the issue, and Tim Drake’s inner monologue is a real standout.
Sadly, though, Lobdell once again hits us with his ridiculous notion for foreshadowing. Twice in this issue, we cut away to a single scene focusing on an upcoming villain. Out of nowhere with little to no build-up. It just happens in the middle of the story. It’s a stupid way to introduce these villains, especially since he utterly ruins the mystery of Trigon! It’s infuriating! I loved how Lobdell and Nicieza started to lay the groundwork for Trigon a few issues ago, when they had his name mentioned in some ancient carvings. I thought that was wonderfully subtle and mysterious, and might just grow as the series progresses.
Nope. We get a full scene of a the fully demonic Tigon sitting on his throne in Hell surrounded by demons, and a scene of him just introducing Raven in all her glory. No mystery, no subtlety, no build-up. He just throws Trigon and Raven right in our faces. What a waste.
Anyway, join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
The 6 Characters on My Random X-Force Team
Why is Marvel putting out two separate but incredibly similar X-Force comics these days? Alright, stupid question. The answer is to make more money, obviously. That’s why there are so many different X-Men titles. But from a creative standpoint, what the heck is Marvel thinking? I have read both Cable and X-Force and Uncanny X-Force, as well as various creator interviews, and it looks to me like the two books might as well be mirror images of one another. Both are about a random assortment of X-characters randomly banding together to fight a random threat. What happened to the days of yore, when the name ‘X-Force’ actually stood for something? When the title was used to tell new, off-kilter stories that were different from the normal X-Men?
Cable and X-Force is about Cable, Domino, Forge, Hope, Colossus and Dr. Nemesis battling the techno-organic virus. Uncanny X-Force is about Storm, Psylocke, Puck, Spiral and Fantomex battling a new designer drug, and possibly Bishop. If you don’t read comics regularly, then it’s possible that those two sentences don’t make a lick of sense. But even if you do read comics, it’s like the Marvel writers just threw darts at a wall of character names to decide who was going to appear in their version of X-Force.
And that sounds like an awesome game! So being the creative guy that I am, I’ve decided to play it as well. If Marvel suddenly decides to give me the reigns to create my own random X-Force team – let’s call it ‘X-Treme X-Force’ – then these are the 6 characters I would use.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/26/13
What a week, what a week, what a week. Good thing there’s always comics to keep us entertained and excited. And another busy week brings us several different Avengers and X-Men comics – including the second X-Force title – as well as the penultimate chapters of the Third Army story in Green Lantern. Is it living up to all the previous Green Lantern sagas? No…not yet. But it’s still fun! As is the new Young Avengers series, and the latest issue of FF, but then we always knew that series was going to be fun.
Seriously, people, there are a ton of new comics this week. But the coveted Comic Book of the Week has to go to Wolverine and the X-Men #24. It’s cute, it’s fun and it reminds me why I loved this series so much in the beginning.
Iceman knows how to show a girl a good time
Comic Reviews: Avengers #3, Batwoman #16, FF #3, Green Lantern #16, Green Lantern: New Guardians #16, Justice League #16, Nightwing #16, Red Hood and the Outlaws #16, Uncanny Avengers #3, Uncanny X-Force #1, Wolverine and the X-Men #24, Wonder Woman #16, Young Avengers #1.
Henchman-4-Hire 