A cascade of reviews
Okay, I've been buying a lot of comics lately with tons of interesting stuff happening but haven't reviewed them.
SO NOW I WILL.
Last week:
Teen Titans Year One #3:
Man, I am still amazed that a comic this cute and funny and generally JOY FILLED, yet not aimed at three year olds, got through DC's angst radar. Aqualad continues to be freakin' adorable and awesome, against all logic. Wonder Girl is really kickass and she has the power of super tears that smite her friends! (And how hilarious was Aqualad randomly drinking her tears?) Kid Flash is just distilled awesome in a can (I love when in an attempt to show Robin HE has cool stuff too, he randomly zooms home and grabs his TURTLE, doubtless the new team mascot)
In fact, generally awesome moment's list:
-Aqualad tasting Wonder Girl's super-tears with a curious expression
-Robin giving WG a handkerchief with LITTLE YELLOW BATS monogrammed on it
-Kid Flash and his turtle
-Aqualad jumping up and down and clapping when Robin tells him to go with KF
-Kid Flash and Aqualad's dialogue while they sort of hide behind a statue and watch Robin sneak up on Wonder Woman
KF: Take that, Wonder Woman!
Aqualad: Robin's COOL!
Then when she throws a pillar at them and KF pushes Aqualad out of the way
KF: I just saved your butt! What were you going to do, commandeer a water fountain?
Aqualad: Oh, like going fast is all that!
-Aqualad's high pitched girly scream for the issue....when Batman just LOOKS at him.
A couple problems I had:
Wow, Wonder Woman went down easy. I guess it's the typical mind-controlled-heroes-can't-use-powers-right since it's the same with Flash and Green Arrow and um, Aquaman. But Batman, of course, was this huge problem. Because, you know, despite being up against a girl with the strength, speed and stamina of ten thousand people and someone who can run at lightspeed...a arrow guy....um, underwater guy...and his own sidekick...Batman will still win. Because he is invincible somehow. But I can fanwank that the antithesis somehow focused extra power into him now that the other heroes were unconcious...and that when KF bashed into Batman's arm it was because he was actively slowing down, trying NOT to take Batman's arm off because that wouldn't be nice, and slowed down too much...
Other problem was the random Batdickery to poor Robin despite the mind control being lifted. But I think that might be a plot point, since the solicit for the next issue says Robin is missing, so KF attempts to take over the leader post (hilarity ensues, I'm sure) Maybe Batman's still under the mind control and they have to rescue Robin! That would be so cool! Anyway, mostly this book was a LOT of fun, and I adore the art, and can't wait for the next issue. Amy Wolfram has managed to inject the same amount of fun and superhero-y goodness here she did to her episodes of the TT animated show. Karl Keshl is a god.
4.5/5
Raven #1
It was suprisingly decent. I didn't mind Damion Scott's art as much as I thought, it seemed to suit the feel of the book better than I imagined. The writing was okay as well. It was nothing spectacular or groundbreaking, and I've never liked Comics!Raven as much as I do Animated!Raven, but the mystery seems interesting enough, so I think I'll pick up the next issue and see where this goes.
3.5/5
Supergirl #25
Weird. Even the solicit for the next issue in the back said "Wow, that was weird!" So at least it was on purpose. I share the same complaints with others that Kara really needs to get herself a decent supporting cast and stable status quo before we go all time-traveling dystopian future. We still don't know who Kara IS, and maybe that's what this arc is trying to say. Maybe all this will end with her realizing she's different for Superman, and that she needs to be stable. I dunno. I'll stick around. But I think at this point, Supergirl would benefit from a relaunch, and some serious retooling.
3/5
Booster Gold #7
Good, as usual. I love the interaction between Beetle and Booster, it feels so...at home. Though I do wonder, if OMACS are so powerful, how did they not kill Mike and Ted with that first blast? Why stun? I wish I'd read more JLI so I could get more of the references (I will someday, don't worry) but I'd read a whole issue of Booster being attacked by Power Girl's kitty.
4.5/5
Wonder Woman #18
Wonder Woman decided to go out with Nemesis. And then the internet exploded.
However, Gail Simone has said over on Scans_daily said she realizes Diana would never get with Nemesis in his current idiotic form, and this is all part of some bigger thing. Simone is a master of the bait and switch, she's been known to make you expect horrible mischaracterization, and then come back completely awesoming you with character development and cool plots- she did this a lot in Birds of Prey, with Dinah's kidnapping, Oracle firing Dinah, ect. So I'm inclined to trust her when she says this will lead to something cool that will explain everything, and I can't wait to see what it is.
And other than that, this issue was amazing. Even the way Diana HANDLED that particular scene was cool, with the Amazonian ritual with shows the Amazon's veiws on love (Yes, there are thorns), her little inner monologue while she kicked Khund ass, Khund girl's fangirling over her (who WOULDN'T??), the statue and Etta Candy. Etta Candy imagines to be equal parts hilarious and cool, like she was in the 40's. And I love the throwback line on the last page, that made my day. This WAS Diana.
Wasn't too fond of the art, someone on scans_daily put it best, Diana looked like a willowy teenager, and Etta still isn't overweight enough. But it was competent and no Wonder thong, and Lopresti will be on soon anyway, SO...
5/5
Gotham Underground #6
I decided to keep buying. And it's good, too, because there was a VERY interesting development on the last page. Leslie Thompkins returns! Well, maybe, she could be a hallucination, but why Dick would hallucinate Leslie when he was shot, I don't know. But, does this mean character redemption? Another clue towards the theory that Leslie faked Spoiler's death? I hope so!
And Spoiler made a few appearances, no news on who she is, other than she wasn't very talkative (which isn't like Steph, but if she's undercover...)
And Oracle still managed to locate Bruce and save him for a LAPTOP at STARBUCKS. Yay. That Babs, she adapts.
Also, I've only read the Vigilante's debut in the 80's Teen Titans and those two issues by Alan Moore where there was a sexually abused little girl and it was sad, but while he certainly has no problem shooting criminals, it seems OOC for the one I read about to randomly shoot someone who he believes to be two bit thugs without getting the story. But hey, who cares about consistancy?
Though there's irony that he shot Dick, since his first appearance EVAR had Dick (Robin at the time) lecturing him on why he shouldn't shoot people...and then the mobster Vigilante was SUPPOSED to be shooting pulled a gun and shot at Robin, and Vigilante has to push Dick out of the way...and that Dick sort of inspired Vigilante to be a, uh, vigilante in the first place.
But, Leslie Thompkins! I'm intrigued!
3/5
And I got in the mail:
Teen Titans Go #52
A typical, decent story. Nothing too interesting accept some nice name dropping. We got this kid stealing Kid Flash's powers and becoming...dundundun....JESSE QUICK! I would have preferred Impulse to be name dropped instead, that would have been cool, since it doesn't make since anyway since Jesse is a girl and Robby (the power stealer) you know, wasn't. We also got Lagoon Boy (yay!), Power Boy (boo) and Changling. But the best name the power stealing kid took on? When he stole Robin's abiities (I'm not sure how that works, I mean, it's NOT a power! Can this kid steal people's piano playing skills as well?) and became...THE PROTECTOR! Who's the Protector? Well a LOOOONNNG time ago when I was looking around Titans Tower. com (I had JUST gotten into the animated Titans) I saw this.
1983 saw the publication of a very special Teen Titans book. It made its debut, not on newsstands, but as part of a kit distributed to schools around the country. The kit was co-produced by DC Comics, Inc., and the Keebler Company for use in President Reagan's drug awareness campaign. Its goal was to inform schoolchildren...
One problem cropped up with the book as Wolfman and Titans artist George Pérez began work on it: Robin, the leader of The Teen Titans, couldn't be used. "This book was being sponsored by Keebler, and Robin was already licensed by Nabisco. So I came up with a new character, The Protector. We already had the art done, so Dave Manak did all the corrections to turn Robin into The Protector. He looks pretty much as I envisioned him, except where his costume is purple, I had originally wanted black."
Ha ha. So yay, I got an obscure geek reference! It would have been great if the kid had been able to randomly shout "Don't do drugs!" or something, but I assume they're not allowed to mention drugs in the Johnny DC line. But still, that was fun.
Thas 'bout it. Got some other things to talk about, but I'll blog about that later
SO NOW I WILL.
Last week:
Teen Titans Year One #3:
Man, I am still amazed that a comic this cute and funny and generally JOY FILLED, yet not aimed at three year olds, got through DC's angst radar. Aqualad continues to be freakin' adorable and awesome, against all logic. Wonder Girl is really kickass and she has the power of super tears that smite her friends! (And how hilarious was Aqualad randomly drinking her tears?) Kid Flash is just distilled awesome in a can (I love when in an attempt to show Robin HE has cool stuff too, he randomly zooms home and grabs his TURTLE, doubtless the new team mascot)
In fact, generally awesome moment's list:
-Aqualad tasting Wonder Girl's super-tears with a curious expression
-Robin giving WG a handkerchief with LITTLE YELLOW BATS monogrammed on it
-Kid Flash and his turtle
-Aqualad jumping up and down and clapping when Robin tells him to go with KF
-Kid Flash and Aqualad's dialogue while they sort of hide behind a statue and watch Robin sneak up on Wonder Woman
KF: Take that, Wonder Woman!
Aqualad: Robin's COOL!
Then when she throws a pillar at them and KF pushes Aqualad out of the way
KF: I just saved your butt! What were you going to do, commandeer a water fountain?
Aqualad: Oh, like going fast is all that!
-Aqualad's high pitched girly scream for the issue....when Batman just LOOKS at him.
A couple problems I had:
Wow, Wonder Woman went down easy. I guess it's the typical mind-controlled-heroes-can't-use-powers-right since it's the same with Flash and Green Arrow and um, Aquaman. But Batman, of course, was this huge problem. Because, you know, despite being up against a girl with the strength, speed and stamina of ten thousand people and someone who can run at lightspeed...a arrow guy....um, underwater guy...and his own sidekick...Batman will still win. Because he is invincible somehow. But I can fanwank that the antithesis somehow focused extra power into him now that the other heroes were unconcious...and that when KF bashed into Batman's arm it was because he was actively slowing down, trying NOT to take Batman's arm off because that wouldn't be nice, and slowed down too much...
Other problem was the random Batdickery to poor Robin despite the mind control being lifted. But I think that might be a plot point, since the solicit for the next issue says Robin is missing, so KF attempts to take over the leader post (hilarity ensues, I'm sure) Maybe Batman's still under the mind control and they have to rescue Robin! That would be so cool! Anyway, mostly this book was a LOT of fun, and I adore the art, and can't wait for the next issue. Amy Wolfram has managed to inject the same amount of fun and superhero-y goodness here she did to her episodes of the TT animated show. Karl Keshl is a god.
4.5/5
Raven #1
It was suprisingly decent. I didn't mind Damion Scott's art as much as I thought, it seemed to suit the feel of the book better than I imagined. The writing was okay as well. It was nothing spectacular or groundbreaking, and I've never liked Comics!Raven as much as I do Animated!Raven, but the mystery seems interesting enough, so I think I'll pick up the next issue and see where this goes.
3.5/5
Supergirl #25
Weird. Even the solicit for the next issue in the back said "Wow, that was weird!" So at least it was on purpose. I share the same complaints with others that Kara really needs to get herself a decent supporting cast and stable status quo before we go all time-traveling dystopian future. We still don't know who Kara IS, and maybe that's what this arc is trying to say. Maybe all this will end with her realizing she's different for Superman, and that she needs to be stable. I dunno. I'll stick around. But I think at this point, Supergirl would benefit from a relaunch, and some serious retooling.
3/5
Booster Gold #7
Good, as usual. I love the interaction between Beetle and Booster, it feels so...at home. Though I do wonder, if OMACS are so powerful, how did they not kill Mike and Ted with that first blast? Why stun? I wish I'd read more JLI so I could get more of the references (I will someday, don't worry) but I'd read a whole issue of Booster being attacked by Power Girl's kitty.
4.5/5
Wonder Woman #18
Wonder Woman decided to go out with Nemesis. And then the internet exploded.
However, Gail Simone has said over on Scans_daily said she realizes Diana would never get with Nemesis in his current idiotic form, and this is all part of some bigger thing. Simone is a master of the bait and switch, she's been known to make you expect horrible mischaracterization, and then come back completely awesoming you with character development and cool plots- she did this a lot in Birds of Prey, with Dinah's kidnapping, Oracle firing Dinah, ect. So I'm inclined to trust her when she says this will lead to something cool that will explain everything, and I can't wait to see what it is.
And other than that, this issue was amazing. Even the way Diana HANDLED that particular scene was cool, with the Amazonian ritual with shows the Amazon's veiws on love (Yes, there are thorns), her little inner monologue while she kicked Khund ass, Khund girl's fangirling over her (who WOULDN'T??), the statue and Etta Candy. Etta Candy imagines to be equal parts hilarious and cool, like she was in the 40's. And I love the throwback line on the last page, that made my day. This WAS Diana.
Wasn't too fond of the art, someone on scans_daily put it best, Diana looked like a willowy teenager, and Etta still isn't overweight enough. But it was competent and no Wonder thong, and Lopresti will be on soon anyway, SO...
5/5
Gotham Underground #6
I decided to keep buying. And it's good, too, because there was a VERY interesting development on the last page. Leslie Thompkins returns! Well, maybe, she could be a hallucination, but why Dick would hallucinate Leslie when he was shot, I don't know. But, does this mean character redemption? Another clue towards the theory that Leslie faked Spoiler's death? I hope so!
And Spoiler made a few appearances, no news on who she is, other than she wasn't very talkative (which isn't like Steph, but if she's undercover...)
And Oracle still managed to locate Bruce and save him for a LAPTOP at STARBUCKS. Yay. That Babs, she adapts.
Also, I've only read the Vigilante's debut in the 80's Teen Titans and those two issues by Alan Moore where there was a sexually abused little girl and it was sad, but while he certainly has no problem shooting criminals, it seems OOC for the one I read about to randomly shoot someone who he believes to be two bit thugs without getting the story. But hey, who cares about consistancy?
Though there's irony that he shot Dick, since his first appearance EVAR had Dick (Robin at the time) lecturing him on why he shouldn't shoot people...and then the mobster Vigilante was SUPPOSED to be shooting pulled a gun and shot at Robin, and Vigilante has to push Dick out of the way...and that Dick sort of inspired Vigilante to be a, uh, vigilante in the first place.
But, Leslie Thompkins! I'm intrigued!
3/5
And I got in the mail:
Teen Titans Go #52
A typical, decent story. Nothing too interesting accept some nice name dropping. We got this kid stealing Kid Flash's powers and becoming...dundundun....JESSE QUICK! I would have preferred Impulse to be name dropped instead, that would have been cool, since it doesn't make since anyway since Jesse is a girl and Robby (the power stealer) you know, wasn't. We also got Lagoon Boy (yay!), Power Boy (boo) and Changling. But the best name the power stealing kid took on? When he stole Robin's abiities (I'm not sure how that works, I mean, it's NOT a power! Can this kid steal people's piano playing skills as well?) and became...THE PROTECTOR! Who's the Protector? Well a LOOOONNNG time ago when I was looking around Titans Tower. com (I had JUST gotten into the animated Titans) I saw this.
1983 saw the publication of a very special Teen Titans book. It made its debut, not on newsstands, but as part of a kit distributed to schools around the country. The kit was co-produced by DC Comics, Inc., and the Keebler Company for use in President Reagan's drug awareness campaign. Its goal was to inform schoolchildren...
One problem cropped up with the book as Wolfman and Titans artist George Pérez began work on it: Robin, the leader of The Teen Titans, couldn't be used. "This book was being sponsored by Keebler, and Robin was already licensed by Nabisco. So I came up with a new character, The Protector. We already had the art done, so Dave Manak did all the corrections to turn Robin into The Protector. He looks pretty much as I envisioned him, except where his costume is purple, I had originally wanted black."
Ha ha. So yay, I got an obscure geek reference! It would have been great if the kid had been able to randomly shout "Don't do drugs!" or something, but I assume they're not allowed to mention drugs in the Johnny DC line. But still, that was fun.
Thas 'bout it. Got some other things to talk about, but I'll blog about that later