Category Archives: Comics
Review: Teen Titans #14
I’m actually surprised to say this, but I liked this issue of Teen Titans. And it’s written by Scott Lobdell. Weird, I know! But, surprise surprise, the guy actually followed my advice and gave (most) of the Teen Titans a moment to slow down and interact like real people! Granted, he doesn’t give them long, and already the hints of future stories start crowding into this issue, but there are still some real moments of genuine character interaction! It’s refreshing and fun to read. The writer of the previous issue, Fabian Nicieza, still did a better job with the jokes and the teenage banter. But Lobdell’s efforts in this issue weren’t their typical terribleness.
Teen Titans #14
If only the rest of Teen Titans had been as good as these two issues, we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. The team still feels very sporadic and uncoordinated, but maybe we’re finally on the right track.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
The issue is split into two parts. Red Robin, Wonder Girl and Superboy continue the battle against Diesel. The dialogue isn’t nearly as good as it was last issue, under Nicieza’s pen, but it’s still serviceable and entertaining enough. The end is a little abrupt, and I’m not entirely sure what happened. But considering the cliffhanger ending to this issue, and the Teen Titans’ involvement in the Death of the Family story in Batman, I almost think Lobdell purposefully just stopped this story dead in its tracks in order to move on. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a lot more planned for Diesel and Wonder Girl. Maybe we’ll find out in the future.
The real treat of this issue – aside from the art, which oddly, is a little worse than last issue – are the scenes between Kid Flash, Bunker and Solstice after they were left behind. Rather than get up to any weird mischief, the trio just kind of hang out, chat amongst themselves and act like real people spending time with their real friends. This is what I’ve wanted to see in Teen Titans since the first issue. This is the kind of thing that will get people to read this comic and love these characters. All action all the time is going to get you nowhere. Unfortunately, Lobdell can’t sit still for too long. A new villain starts to insert himself in these scenes, and it’s really disappointing. We don’t need to be constantly inundated with superhero action! That’s why the Teen Titans still don’t really feel like friends, but instead are just a bunch of characters thrown together in a comic book.
And lordy, the number of editors’ notes referring to other comics and other series are ridiculous. Nothing that happens in this issue or to these characters has me the least bit interested in jumping over to some other series to see where the action continues. And all these little reminders just get annoying.
Alas, Teen Titans is still filled with flaws. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Review: Ultimate Comics: All-New Spider-Man #17
I criticized the last issue for having a generic fight scene, one that I thought had little to do with the conflict as a whole, and with Miles Morales in particular. Brian Michael Bendis must have read my review, because not only does this new fight actually feel like it matters for Miles, but Bendis gives Miles’ mom and dad some real drama of their own. We also finally learn his mom’s name! But it just raises more questions, like why Miles’ mom and dad have different last names, and why Miles’ took his mom’s name. What’s up with that?
But that’s just me getting off on a tangent. The real story is in Miles going to war!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
For reals, this is Miles on the front lines of an epic superhero battle! They try to make it out to be a war, because mostly it involves armed soldiers, but this is definitely a superhero battle. An epic, bombastic superhero brawl! For the most part. I’m sure if I was reading the rest of ‘United We Stand’ it would seem even cooler, but I’m not. So instead, I’m just focused on how it effects Miles Morales and what it means for his story. I’m happy to say that it means a lot. There’s still a sense of Miles feeling in over his head, along with having the same sort of luck he usually has in fights. But there’s also a sense that he’s learning from this, growing from it. And the cliffhanger should prove to be excellent for Miles’ development going forward, which I’m always excited about.
And like I said before, there are some great developments for Miles’ parents. I don’ t think Bendis has explored these characters as much as he could or should. Miles’ parents still being alive (and not being a dithering old bitty like Aunt May) is a huge difference between Miles Morales and Peter Parker. But Bendis had Miles shipped off to a private boarding school rather than explore his parents. Perhaps some of the events in this issue will change things for the better.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 11/24/12
Holy mackerel, it’s a big week in comic books for me! I know I buy a lot of comics each week, but for some reason, a veritable ton of books were waiting for me in the comic shop. I’m lucky I managed to get through them all! I may have to start bleeding over some titles into the week after if I get anymore weeks like this. I’m only one man, after all. So what do we have in store for us this week? A nice smattering of DC and Marvel, with a few new Marvel NOW! starts, including The Indestructible Hulk, the title I was most looking forward to. Did it live up to the hype? Maybe. How about the big Amazing Spider-Man surprise? That definitely lived up to the hype.
But surprise, surprise, the Comic Book of the Week turned out to be Captain Marvel #7! I’m glad to see that title finally carrying its weight.
Captain Marvel fights the Iron Giant’s redneck cousin
Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #698, Batwoman #14, Captain America #1, Captain Marvel #7, Green Lantern: New Guardians #14, Hawkeye #4, Indestructible Hulk #1, Justice League #14, Nightwing #14, Red Hood and the Outlaws #14, Uncanny X-Force # 34, Wolverine and the X-Men #21, and Wonder Woman #14.
Review: X-Factor #247
It’s Multiple Man versus the zombie of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. How can you not love comics? Where else in the world of fiction are you going to get the Highlander done with Abraham Lincoln impersonators? Or Multiple Man being this cool? The Breaking Points story may be over, but writer Peter David is still focused on character-centric issues, this time giving Jamie Madrox and his gal Layla a chance to shine – while moving his larger story forward at a snail’s pace.
X-Factor #247
Still, if you’re looking for an awesome Multiple Man hero story, there are worse places to look. It’s always fun to see my favorite superhero being this cool.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
This is a very fun comic that kind of spins off into a weird, yet entertaining, lunacy. It also has an unfortunate habit of trying to tie its tale of resurrected Confederate soldiers into the deaths/rebirths of superheroes, adding an unnecessary weight around its neck. We get it, superheroes tend to return from the dead a lot. Commenting on that fact does not count as a joke or even criticism, especially when X-Factor has done it twice now. Why couldn’t Confederate soldier zombies exist on their own terms? Why tie it to that annoying ‘nobody stays dead in comics’ issue? Really deflates the menace of Zombie Robert E. Lee.
But if you’re willing to look past that nit pick, this is an otherwise really fun issue. Jamie and Layla are a cool couple, with great timing between them. They have a really good chemistry, is what I’m trying to say, and it’s really on display in this issue. Likewise, Madrox in general is in fine form. He’s all superheroic and leading man, exactly how I like him. There’s also a nice bit of comedy sprinkled throughout, just like with every issue of X-Factor. It’s Multiple Man vs. Zombie Robert E. Lee, people! What more do I need to say?
Join me after the jump for more!
The 6 Best Pop Culture Brothers
It was my brother’s birthday on Monday, and you may remember him from various comments he’s posted on my articles, or that one blog post he wrote about robots. I’ve tried to get him to write more posts, seeing as how he’s both funny and a good writer, but I guess he’s just got something better to do than help out his brother’s blog. It’s not like I’m providing a completely free and easy way to get his voice out to the masses or anything. But I digress. Today’s List of Six is his Happy Birthday present, because I’m a cheap schmuck.
Soon there will be war
So siblings are a thing. And like most things, they’ve worked their way into pop culture. Fancy that. But no, seriously, they’re everywhere! Pop culture and fiction especially like twins. But we’re not twins. We just look like twins. Other than his massive beard, of course. Several of the characters on this list have beards. So it all kind of comes full circle. Here are the 6 best brother pairs in pop culture!
Henchman-4-Hire