Category Archives: Reviews
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/3/2015
Holy New Year, comic book fans! Not only were there five Wednesdays in December, but the last one fell on New Year’s Eve, which apparently means that both DC and Marvel decided that nobody was going to bother buying comics. Both companies released less than a handful of comics this week, knocking my review pile down to a total of two comics!
The first is the latest issue of Batman Eternal, because DC decided to keep to that weekly schedule of theirs. It’s not as bad as previous issues, but it’s still not the breakthrough we’re all hoping for here at the end. Marvel released the first issue of their new SHIELD series, introducing characters from the TV show into the comic book Marvel Universe. It’s actually very good, and wins Comic Book of the Week with ease!
Since it’s such a slow week, I also decided to finally read and review The Valiant #1 from a few weeks ago. Some of you have no doubt heard of Valiant Comics. It’s always been in the back of my mind, and someone recently recommended to me that I start picking up some of their comics. I’m always trying to stretch beyond Marvel and DC, so why not?
But was it worth the cost? Read on!
Comic Reviews: Batman Eternal #39, SHIELD #1 and The Valiant #1.
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/27/14
Ho, Ho, Ho, my henchies! The holidays are still in full swing for me. I’m visiting family in Rochester, NY today, and that’s always a treat. But even with all the traveling, working and unwrapping of excellent presents, I managed to pick up and read a few comics.
Batman Eternal continues to be the absolute worst, despite all the potential it could have. Damian Wayne returns as Robin like it ain’t no thang. And two of my favorite comics, She-Hulk and Uncanny X-Men, deliver some more stellar issues. Comic Book of the Week goes to She-Hulk #11 for some quality superheroics.
Though Uncanny X-Men is not without its charms.
Goldballs needs to become Bendis’ chief legacy with the X-Men, like what he did for Luke Cage and the Avengers.
Comic Reviews: Batman Eternal #38, Robin Rises – Alpha, She-Hulk #11 and Uncanny X-Men #29.
Review: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Count me among the people who regret that The Hobbit films were stretched out into a trilogy. There is so much unnecessary filler and extra nonsense in these movies, and in The Battle of the Five Armies especially, that this third movie is all third act. There’s not enough material for The Battle of the Five Armies to stand on its own, with nearly everything – especially the emotional impact – tied to the first two films. And since an entire year has passed, none of that emotion or interest has carried over.
The Battle of the Five Armies is entertaining at the barest, baseline level, because it’s still a well-made film telling a story that I like. But The Hobbit trilogy has been stretched too thin, like butter scraped over too much bread.
Movie Review: 5/10 – Alright.
I suppose in one long, 9-hour viewing, The Hobbit as a whole might be a good movie. But who has the time or energy to watch that sort of thing? Who could have the desire? I’ve never read any of author J.R.R. Tolkien’s original works, so I don’t speak from a literary perspective. As a movie-goer, as someone who loves The Lord of the Rings movies deeply, I feel that The Hobbit was just too jammed up with nonsense. Fights were long, characters were uninteresting, story arcs were uninspired, and nothing hit with the same impact as The Lord of the Rings. Director Peter Jackson tried to make too much out of too little, simple as that.
Personally, I’m more than willing to blame the studio, which probably pushed for the trilogy in order to make more money. Cynical things like that definitely happen. And I suppose Jackson and his team of writers, actors and producers did their best to make this trilogy work. But The Battle of the Five Armies is a slog. They don’t even try to make it it’s own movie.
Join me after the jump for the full review! There will be SPOILERS from The Battle of the Five Armies!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/20/14
Happy Holidays, Henchies! We’re deep in the heart of Hannukah right now, and next week is Christmas! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you have a good one. I’ll be going home to see my family, and we’ll have a good time, like we do. We’ll talk comics, movies, cartoons; maybe I’ll get some new TV show recommendations! Oh, and presents! If I get any good presents, I’ll let you henchies know.
This week was pretty full of interesting comics – both good and bad! Marvel delivered the one-two punch of both Captain and Ms. Marvel, the former capturing Comic Book of the Week for the first time in awhile, thanks to a detour away from stupid outer space. In bad comics, DC continues their assassination of Wonder Woman, and Batman Eternal is as bad as it’s ever been. But Robin is back, so that should count for something. Too bad it’s not the Robin I wanted.
He makes this look good
Oh Harper Row, you had such potential. But I will never give up hope!
Comic Reviews: Batman Eternal #37, Batman and Robin #37, Captain Marvel #10, Ms. Marvel #10, Scarlet Spiders #2 and Wonder Woman #37.
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!
