August Highs & Lows in Comic Books
Week of August 4:
Best - (DC COMICS) Brightest Day #7 - The strange thing about these limited series that last a long while is there is this expectation of the story moving fast but really it moves at the same pace as any ongoing title and readers get impatient because they know there is an endgame at some point. That being said, this issue finally reveals some of what is going on in the overall story of the book and why the characters of the book were chosen to be reborn. My interest has grown but by no means am I eagerly anticipating each issue's release.
Worst - (MARVEL) Captain America #608 - If there's one thing I can't stand is when secret identities are no longer secret. Marvel seems to do this aspect more than DC and with Zemo outing Bucky not only as Cap but his past as Winter Soldier I start to feel this book slipping down a path I don't see myself enjoying. Honestly, with this book I'm feeling like the early issues (10-19) where I dropped the book for about a year before word of Steve's upcoming death began to spread.
Week of August 11:
Best - (DC COMICS) Zatanna #4 - I've been hesitant to get fully on the bandwagon of this book since I always hate the necessary evil of a former Bat love interest needing her own supporting cast (including love interests) that have nothing to do with the Bat family for a new solo book. I enjoyed the opening battle against the Royal Flush Gang, and while I find Zachary irritating I did like how Zee handled his impromptu party.
Worst - (DC COMICS) Birds of Prey #4 - The art in this book is a disgrace. I don't know if Benes has problems but DC made such a big deal of him being with Gail for the relaunch of the series but he has not drawn a full issue since the first and the supporting artist they had in this issue looked so different from Benes that it was very distracting. I haven't been a fan of the story either. Didn't need to see Penguin dreaming he was making out with Dawn, or this dragged out fight between White Canary and the Birds because I have no invested interest in White Canary which Gail should have established in the first or second issue at the latest. I'm only still reading the book to support Barb and the birds but to be honest I haven't enjoyed a Birds of Prey issue in years. At least they're not in Platinum Flats anymore.
Week of August 18:
Best - (BOOM! STUDIOS) Darkwing Duck #3 - This was easily my favorite comic of the week. I loved the tv show as a kid, had tons of toys from the series and to see the show be reborn as a comic series, I'm so excited! They seem determined to stay true to the spirit of the show and the art reflects the show so well that it's easy to fall back in love with DW. Boom! does such a great job with the Disney/Pixar properties that I really hope the Gargoyles comic could be restarted with them this time.
Worst - (DC COMICS) Green Lantern Corps #51 - I'm hoping this isn't a reflection of the new author on the book with Tomasi moving to Emerald Warriors but I've never been a fan of the Alpha Lanterns and to see what happens to some of them in this issue was just too gruesome for me to enjoy. That said, it's nice to see Hank Henshaw again.
Week of August 25:
Best - (DARK HORSE) Star Wars: Blood Ties #1 - I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, I only read it because it was a Star Wars book and with Knights of the Old Republic & Legacy finished I wanted something from Star Wars to read (since I gave up the novel EU many years ago). What made this issue so good was they knew what they wanted in the story and just stuck to it. Jango/Boba Fett story starting around Attack of the Clones time in this issue and Jango training Boba before being given a mission by Count Dooku. Read it if you're a Star Wars fan or a Fett fan.
Worst - (DC COMICS) Madame Xanadu #26 - I am glad that the final issue of the series is fast approaching because I would be dropping the title otherwise with the way the storytelling has taken of late with Nimue being a much smaller part of each issue's story and whenever Amy Reeder is not the artist the book looks less impressive.
Best - (DC COMICS) Brightest Day #7 - The strange thing about these limited series that last a long while is there is this expectation of the story moving fast but really it moves at the same pace as any ongoing title and readers get impatient because they know there is an endgame at some point. That being said, this issue finally reveals some of what is going on in the overall story of the book and why the characters of the book were chosen to be reborn. My interest has grown but by no means am I eagerly anticipating each issue's release.
Worst - (MARVEL) Captain America #608 - If there's one thing I can't stand is when secret identities are no longer secret. Marvel seems to do this aspect more than DC and with Zemo outing Bucky not only as Cap but his past as Winter Soldier I start to feel this book slipping down a path I don't see myself enjoying. Honestly, with this book I'm feeling like the early issues (10-19) where I dropped the book for about a year before word of Steve's upcoming death began to spread.
Week of August 11:
Best - (DC COMICS) Zatanna #4 - I've been hesitant to get fully on the bandwagon of this book since I always hate the necessary evil of a former Bat love interest needing her own supporting cast (including love interests) that have nothing to do with the Bat family for a new solo book. I enjoyed the opening battle against the Royal Flush Gang, and while I find Zachary irritating I did like how Zee handled his impromptu party.
Worst - (DC COMICS) Birds of Prey #4 - The art in this book is a disgrace. I don't know if Benes has problems but DC made such a big deal of him being with Gail for the relaunch of the series but he has not drawn a full issue since the first and the supporting artist they had in this issue looked so different from Benes that it was very distracting. I haven't been a fan of the story either. Didn't need to see Penguin dreaming he was making out with Dawn, or this dragged out fight between White Canary and the Birds because I have no invested interest in White Canary which Gail should have established in the first or second issue at the latest. I'm only still reading the book to support Barb and the birds but to be honest I haven't enjoyed a Birds of Prey issue in years. At least they're not in Platinum Flats anymore.
Week of August 18:
Best - (BOOM! STUDIOS) Darkwing Duck #3 - This was easily my favorite comic of the week. I loved the tv show as a kid, had tons of toys from the series and to see the show be reborn as a comic series, I'm so excited! They seem determined to stay true to the spirit of the show and the art reflects the show so well that it's easy to fall back in love with DW. Boom! does such a great job with the Disney/Pixar properties that I really hope the Gargoyles comic could be restarted with them this time.
Worst - (DC COMICS) Green Lantern Corps #51 - I'm hoping this isn't a reflection of the new author on the book with Tomasi moving to Emerald Warriors but I've never been a fan of the Alpha Lanterns and to see what happens to some of them in this issue was just too gruesome for me to enjoy. That said, it's nice to see Hank Henshaw again.
Week of August 25:
Best - (DARK HORSE) Star Wars: Blood Ties #1 - I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, I only read it because it was a Star Wars book and with Knights of the Old Republic & Legacy finished I wanted something from Star Wars to read (since I gave up the novel EU many years ago). What made this issue so good was they knew what they wanted in the story and just stuck to it. Jango/Boba Fett story starting around Attack of the Clones time in this issue and Jango training Boba before being given a mission by Count Dooku. Read it if you're a Star Wars fan or a Fett fan.
Worst - (DC COMICS) Madame Xanadu #26 - I am glad that the final issue of the series is fast approaching because I would be dropping the title otherwise with the way the storytelling has taken of late with Nimue being a much smaller part of each issue's story and whenever Amy Reeder is not the artist the book looks less impressive.