Category Archives: Comics
First Look at DC’s ‘The Ravagers’
Remember the announcement that DC Comics would launch 6 new titles in May, and that one of them would be called The Ravagers, about a team of teenage heroes on the run from bad guys? Of course you do. And if you don’t, I’m here to remind you! Because DC Comics has posted the first team image of the Ravagers…and they’re a bunch of nobodies!
Hot redheads can sell anything
To be fair, the buff redhead at the front of the pack is a somebody. She’s Caitlin Fairchild, former leader of Gen 13 from Wildstorm Comics. They were fairly popular in the 90s (I think they had a cartoon show!). She’s one of several Wildstorm characters to make the jump to the DC Universe proper with the new 52 reboot. Up until this series, Fairchild has been a supporting character in the Superboy comic, a brainy scientist who has been trying to help Superboy. Well it looks like DC is going to pull the trigger and make Caitlin into her more well-known and muscular superhero identity, putting her at the head of a new group of teenager superheroes.
Or a new group of nobodies, if you ask me. Who the heck are those losers?
There wasn’t any text to accompany this image, but I get the feeling that DC is inventing 5 new characters to join Fairchild on this team. That is a ridiculous idea! DC rebooted their entire comics line in September, and they weren’t afraid to give characters completely new origins. Superboy, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash of the Teen Titans all have brand new origins. So in this situation, I would think that DC would have been better served to open their vast catalogue of teenage characters and reinvent some well-known and already popular heroes. At least then there would be a built-in audience (of sorts). Instead, DC is going to bank this title on sheer interest in superheroes alone, I guess.
Because the name ‘Ravagers’ is just stupid. That name is so generic, they might as well be called ‘The Wild Cats’.
If you’re going to reboot your comics, which DC clearly did, then have some fun with it. New characters have their place, but with a reboot, half the fun is in re-inventing and re-imagining your longtime characters. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of teenage DC characters who have yet to appear in this reboot that would probably be perfect for this new series.
Can I get some love for the Wonder Twins?
Review: Punisher #8
Finally picking back up with the Punisher and the Bride facing off at the fireplace, the latest issue of The Punisher moves the plot forward in several ways. But it does so without fixing any of the frequent problems I’ve had with this series. Perhaps, like Teen Titans, I should just accept certain problems as part of the story and move on. Because if you overlook those issues, there really is a decent Punisher story here. And the twist ending is very exciting.
Punisher #8
We might finally get to see the Punisher doing some punishing next issue!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
The Punisher himself remains a quiet phantom, there’s no changing that. But at least we get appearances from all the other major players, we even learn a bit more about a lot of them. Not that this ‘bit more’ really adds anything, especially to the villains. As far as I’m concerned, The Exchange has fallen flat on their faces as bad guys. Adding a bit of tension between them means zilch at this point. But it’s better than nothing, I suppose. I enjoy plot progression at least.
But when is he going to lose that stupid eye patch? Did Punisher lose his eye or what?
Synopsis and spoilers after the jump!
Death and Return of Superman 4 Hire
Marking the 20th anniversary (almost) of the Death of Superman, “Chronicle” screenwriter Max Landis gives us this glowing tribute, featuring the talents of Elijah Wood and Mandy Moore. Enjoy! It’s perhaps the most accurate rendition I’ve ever seen.
Review: X-Factor #231
Only more questions arise in the latest chapter of Madrox’s ‘afterlife’ adventure. I want the conclusion already! This issue dips in quality because it devotes far too much time to a bunch of alternate reality characters that just don’t matter. Or maybe they’re going to matter in future stories? I rather hope not, because there was nothing very interesting about this reality. When Madrox isn’t the focus, the book issue is incredibly boring. But when Madrox has the time to shine, the book is a gem.
X-Factor #231
Clear answer: give us more Madrox!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
Basically this issue feels a bit like padding. The entire issue is spent with Madrox, but we don’t learn anything new about his predicament, don’t get any revelations about the ‘truth’ of his duplicating powers and we don’t get any closer to Madrox returning home. It’s basically just Madrox hanging out in an alternate reality, but rather than one filled with character like the one with the wedding, this reality feels mostly cliche. Not to mention the fact that it drops a lot of random references to ‘House of M’ and ‘Civil War’, plus features a character who hasn’t been seen in so long that new readers won’t have any clue why he is important.
But all this worry is only temporary, as next issue is the conclusion to ‘They Keep Killing Madrox’! I’m on pins and needles!
Synopsis and spoilers after the jump.
‘Before Watchmen ‘ Announced, Because Everybody Loves Prequels
I give you, Watchmen Babies!
Everything's coming up Milhouse!
Well, sort of…but not quite. DC has finally officially announced Watchmen 2. Only they’re going to be prequels, under the banner of ‘Before Watchmen’. This is pretty cool news, and I wish I could give it a bigger push.
But this has been a pretty lousy week for my blog. Chalk it up to a busy day job. I may not be posting as much cool stuff, but you readers should know that I’m going to be earning a ton of overtime covering this big murder trial. So…yay me! I’ll try to get comic reviews up like normal this weekend, and a new list.
But for now, let’s check out this badass Watchmen announcement. Check out the titles and some covers after the jump.
Henchman-4-Hire