Round 25: Comics for August 10, 2011

Another week of comics! Boom! Skipping the back issues I got on saturday though because none of them were all that fun and I don't have them on hand. They were Rocketeer Adventures #3 and Gates of Gotham 3 and 4. Onto new stuff though.


Amazing Spider-Man #667
Oh man. Spider-Man traded off Fear Itself for this event and already it is so much fun. The Jackal went and hooked up the crime gangs (and other random civilians like Peter's current girlfriend Carly Cooper) with Spider-Powers. The problem is the Jackal also gave the criminals costumes. And Lady Web is there and that is never a good sign. This is already shaping up to be mega fun and as infectious as an STD (spidey transmitted disease).
+2



Batman and Robin #26
I bought this solely for the cover as Batman, Robin and Nightrunner (the faux controversial French-Muslim parkour Batman) stood off against the whole of France being controlled by The Son of Man (in reference to the painting), Sister Crystal (who could turn people to crystal), The Id (who could mentally control masses), Skin Talker (who could hypnotize with messages on his skin) and Ray Man (who could make people trip balls. This all takes place at the Louvre and is filled with a lot of fun stuff like the ultimate reveal of the Son of Man. Dang!
+1


Deadpool #41
Deadpool continues his stint in prison and he is actually recovering. No commentary from the boxes. No madcap antics. The story is interesting in how un-Deadpool-y he is being. He is being forced to confront what he did but I have a feeling something deeper is happening. I honestly can't say I ever pictures this happening or being interesting but it is totally both.
+1




Fear Itself #5
As Thor faces the Hulk and the Thing (presented by Evil Hammers ®), Tony Stark talks to Odin and Steve Rogers, the original Cap goes up against Sin, daughter of the Red Skull. Thor defeats the Thing launching Mjolnir through him leaving him dying in the Baxter building while Tony pleads to Odin for the chance to have a chance - by making weapons. Meanwhile Thor launches the Hulk into space while Ben Grimm is restored, just in time for the Serpent to land on Earth (and for Spider-Man to leave). A lot of great stuff here and set up for the final two issues that I am really looking forward to.
+1


Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3
The final issue bring the group of Frankenstein, his bride, Velcoro (the man bat) , Griffith (the werewolf) Nina (the aquatic creature) and the monster hunter Shrieve, daughter of the original leader off to Romania. Once there they are confronted with the military's top monster killing robot and the monsters he killed. Nina's father, the original scientist who created the monsters is there for medical duties as the Frankensteins and Velcoro fight the robot. Velcoro ends up dying a hero's death and Griffith is turned back to human and then I guess the Frankensteins and Shrieve ride on horses to try and stop Wonder Woman and Aquaman which is just not as good of an ending as I hoped. This issue wasn't as fun or satisfying as the others but I am still looking forward to Lemire's long running series in the future.
+1


Hellboy: The Fury #3
As Hellboy faces the dragon he's been waiting to face all of his life, all hell breaks loose and everything ends.
+1










The Incredible Hulks #634
The Hulk destroys the world. But before that Amadeus Cho, Dr Strange and Monica Rappaccini go to stop him and fail as The Hulk and his current girl Umar face off against She-Hulk (red), Tyrannus, Fin Fang Foom and the Mindless Ones. Strange escapes when Rappaccini and Cho decide to stay only for the Hulk to destroy the world and bring them back. The Hulk begins and eternal battle with the She-Hulk before Tyrannus and a super chaged Fin Fang Foom kick it out of a portal and go to take over Earth. one issue left. Dang.
+2


The New Avengers #15
I will not lie, I am a fan of Squirrel Girl and how amazingly overpowered she is and that is the one rule in my personal cannon - everyone she defeated she defeated. When she got to spar and beat Wolverine in this issue - amazing. When she broke through a Nazi mech - yes! As the nanny to Jessica Jone and Luke Cage though, she's going to get a lot more work as about 30 mechs just surrounded the mansion and yes.
+1



Spider-Island: Cloak and Dagger #1
Oh man. I've had a passing knowledge of Cloak and Dagger mostly through comics like Runaways but this book is a great introduction as the two start to fall apart. While Cloak wants to be more of a hero, Dagger is interested in a simpler life. Getting called into the fray of the Spider-Man invasion looks like this is going to turn interesting. Meanwhile Mister Negative is worrying about his death which has been predicted to come at the hands of Dagger? Bum bum bum! The writing in this is super solid and Nick Spencer makes some good comics and with Emma Rios on the art that is all cranked up.
+1


Spider-Island: Deadly Foes #1
2 issues for $4.99! Dang!
As Phil Urich, the Hobgoblin goes over his revenge he explains his infatuation with Norah Winters, the Bugle Reporter currently dating the son of the current Bugle editor, Randy Robertson. Greed is a big problem but when the Hobgoblin tries to kill Randy, he finds that those new Spider-Powers Randy has are a lot worse. In the end Randy leaves Norah for risking her life (stupidly) to try and cover a story to get back at Betty Brant only for Norah to swing over to Phil.
In part 2, we meet the Jackal and his past and his future as he brings back Kaine (who died but not really in the Grim Hunt) only to be confronted by his first failed clone of Gwen Stacy. As she attempts to kill her father, the Jackal, Tarantula saves him only for the three (Jackal, Kaine and Tarantula) to meet a yet unidentified woman.
The first part was a lot more fun with Slott on the writing but the second half actually made the Jackal seem like a Jackal, more bestial and psychotic. Overall though, this was a lot of fun.
+1


Ultimate Comics Fallout #5
Quicksilver/Pietro plans to sell the mutants to be tapped for their powers while Nick Fury faces a stretched budget. The issue ends with Quicksilver almost getting incesty with his sister the Scarlet Witch but he luckily freaks out especially after being told to go to Egypt. Shadow King or Apocalypse anyone? I am actually interested in the new Ultimate X-men but I am also glad the next Ultimate Fallout is the end.
+1



Final Scores:
Marvel +10
DC +2
Dark Horse + 1

Next week:
Superman Batman
Avengers
Avengers Academy
Daredevil
Fear Itself Deadpool
Fear Itself Fearsome Four
Hulk
Journey Into Mystery
Spider-Island: Spider-Girl
Thunderbolts
Ultimate Comics Fallout
Venom

Also, got a hook up by getting Lucifer Vol1 for about $7. Thanks LCBS!

ROUND 13: Comics For June 1, 2011

An update so late in the week? What am I? A vampire? No. That is silly. What does being a vampire have to do with posting late in the week.
Truth be told DC Vs Marvelers, I have been busy this week. Relatives, homework, freelance work, no sleep and a myriad of other forces teamed up with the thing to bring me down man.
The notes this week might be weird since I took them a while ago and I don't wanna reread everything. Too tired.

Blast From The Past (Weekly) Review
Onslaught Unleashed #4
I don't know about Onslaught Unleashed. I picked it up originally because if they are bringing back Prof X's evil mind baby with Magneto and the baby is canon then sign me up. Onslaught tried to possess Rikki Barnes/Nomad, the alternate Bucky and then her teammates the Young Allies and the Secret Avengers tried to stop them. The art was good but the storytelling was unclear. Apparently the brother of Toro, a Young Ally, was there and doing something and it was confusing. At the end I think they sealed Onslaught away again but it maybe didn't happen. I just don't even know.
Score: -1

The Incredible Hulks #629
Last time on The Incredible Hulks, Tyrannus the immortal emperor turned into a giant god while holding Pandora's box (which was really an urn). Betty Ross, the Red She-Hulk, and the Hulk were teamed up to stop him. After she gets beat down and untransforms, she learns if she transforms again she will be stuck. The ending of the arc was a bit disappointing but it worked for the characters and the art was good as always. I am just sad that none of the recent arcs have been up to Planet Hulk or World War Hulk levels of fun. Still, Greg Pak has one final arc to run and I look forward to this, this upcoming week!
Score: 0

Power Man and Iron Fist #5
Power Man and Iron Fist wrapped up this week as much as it will for a miniseries. The duo fought NeoNazis with kicking and resolved the issues but I left a bit confused over some of the plotline and it could probably use a reread. Check it out, the characters are well done and the art is good. People also get kicked a lot and in a month or so it will be out as a trade.
Score: +1






Off The Racks!:
Quick Side Note: DC, I am aware you want to push Super 8 on comic readers and I appreciate that you have it in our books without increasing the prices but I have yet to read it because YOU ALWAYS PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMICS. I'd rather read it in the back of book, you know, like I do with back up features. And this is in every DC book I bought. DC, suck an egg for now and stop putting the comic in the center.

Fear Itself: The Deep #1
The series is written by Cullen Bunn the guy behind not only the very great The Sixth Gun but also the Superman/Batman arc with magical Batman from the future. The series has Attuma with an evil got hammer kicking Namor and Loa (an X-man) out of Atlantis and taking over. Namor called on Dr. Stranger from the Defenders to bring the team back. Due To Dr Strange not being the Sorceror Supreme anymore though he summons Lyra (alternate future She-Hulk) instead, though the fact that Hulk has a god hammer might also factor in. There is punching and they round out the team with the Silver Surfer. I am excited to see where this goes and you should give the series a try.
Score: +1

Herc #4
Herc flies on a griffin, finds the use behind belt pouches, gets stabbed and beaten and keeps on ticking.
Favorite Comic Book Of The Week
Score: +2
Pope, But He's Made Of Chocolate #87
Despite a very weird release schedule the newest issue of PBHMC does not fail to deliver. In the last issue back in February, The Choco Pope ended up being melted and poured into a devil mold. Luckily in this issue, Choppowsi, CP's half helicopter roommate/president of the Vatican comes in to help. He uses the chopper blades to remold the CP into the normal form, but now with a machine gun with holy water. Next issue CP fights Baron Von Satin.
Score:+1

Heroes For Hire #8
When we last left our Heroes For Hire, Spider-man was fighting velociraptors in a cage fight controlled by Batroc the Leaper and the mysterious employer of him and the the Puppetmaster (who had controlled Misty Knight earlier). Misty comes into help with Satana and fun stuff happens. Raptors are punched, Batroc leaps and nudity happens.
Score: +1





Hulk #34
So I mentioned earlier that I liked Planet Hulk and this Planet Red Hulk walks a thin line. Rulk is called to look at an anomally, is pulled into a portal and is put onto a barbaric planet. Spoilers Follow.Then Rulk kills the king and takes over in one issue. HAHAHAHAHAHA. I cried a bit. I look forward to where this series arc will go to.
Score: +1





Thunderbolts #158
We've already seen the Juggernaut getting the hammer and breaking the Raft so this focuses on our heroic villains finding out. The team is fighting techno zombies when they discover the Raft has been destroyed and instead of running off they decide to police the island prison. The art and the writing in this book are wonderful and there is a reason I still love to recommend this book.
Score: +1




Hellboy The Fury #1
I like Hellboy though I've not read a lot of the comics but the series does a good job catching the reader up to what may be the most important Hellboy story yet. Pick it up to read it though if you like the series at all. I would like to see Mignola draw this though but what can I say.
Score: +1






Static Shock Special
The Troy McDuffie-esqe memorial issue that wasn't really a memorial was a very good comic. I never read the Static Shock series but I grew up with the TV show as a kid. Virgil/Static's father is released from prison after being wrongly incarcerated thanks to Virgil's work but the past catches up too fast. I do wish I had read more of the comic but the issue is really good this week.
Score: +1




Amazing Spider-Man #663
I am honestly divided on the character of Anti-Venom since he is evil but he cures people and I don't know. Unlike Slott's other work up to this point the most recent arc seems to involve some more obscure-ish canon (at least to me). A new crime fight is after Mister Negative whom Anti-Venom is also after. Mister Negative's alternate identity is that of a very charitable person Spider-man knows. Thus conflict. I am interested in where this goes but I am cautious.
Score: +1



Feat Itself Book #3
Fear Itself actually tells a story and has action compared to Flashpoint 2. A buncha stuff happens, the Thing gets a hammer, Bucky-Cap fights Sin-Skadi and Thor gets the hell out of Dodge-Asgard with a time limit to return before Ragnarok happens... again? (I only think Ragnarok happened previously in Marvel Thor, I might be wrong.)
Score: +1





Uncanny X-force #11
Last time we met out heroes we found Archangel is destined to be the next Apocalypse unless the X-force get a Life Seed that will cured/kill/ultra-die Apocalypse. The problem - they have to go into the Age of Apocalypse Universe to do this. The bigger problem - their guide is Dark Beast, Apocalypse's servant. Oh, and one more problem - the remaining resistance force just saw the X-force with Dark Beast.
Score: +1




Weird Worlds #6
Oh god I am glad this is done. Lobo story was confusing as butts. Garbage Man is apparently going to have his own series in the DC line. Tanga I just stopped reading three pages in. Good riddance.
Score: -1







Moon Knight #2
Moon Knight had a magical costume to switch between super powers and identities and while this sounds cool it could have been better. His Spider-man powers are pretty much a worse version of the Spider-man toys you'd get with a kids meal wherein they shoot a hard plastic web. Wolverine is simple enough but yeah. Moon Knight fights evil prostitutes and then has sex with one who was undercover. This was a major drop from the last issue that I loved so much.
Score: -1



Flashpoint #2
We see a bit about Aquaman and Wonder Woman fighting pirate Deathstroke and it clears things up? Also Flash thinks Reverse Flash is messing with him since his costume ring has a Reverse Flash Costume. Flash decides he needs to be repowered so he has alternate Batman hook him up to a machine to recreate his powers. If only the Flash would die instead.
Score: 0




Avengers Academy 14.1
The Avengers Academy kids have to ask a tough question - were they better off joining the team and learning to use their powers. The .1 issue has the kids meeting their almost alumni including a boy who calls himself the Alchemist . They find almost everyone is doing well - but is there something darker going on? The issue was well written, fun and the art was great.
Best Comic Of The Week
Score: +2



Scores:
Marvel - 9
DC - 0
Dark Horse - 1
Noncomm - 1

The House That Jack Built still is my personal winner. If there are any DC Comics you want me to check out next week, leave a comment and I'll see what I can do.

Join me next week for Frankenstein Vs Frankenstein: The Miniseries Fight To The Death.

Next Week's Pull List:
Flashpoint: Frankenstein
Superman
Spider-man
Deadpool
Fear Itself: Deadpool
Fear Itself: Fearsome Four
Incredible Hulks
Mystery Men
New Avengers
Ultimate Spiderman

Stuff I Forgot:
Wolverine and Herc: Mutants, Myths and Monsters

ROUND SEVEN: Comics For May 11th, 2011

Greetings all you readers of comics. Luke/Koltreg/The Cowboy Frankenstein Officer of Blackwolf Industries - Pittsburgh is back with a vengeance like the Dark Knight. There is a triple review block this week readers with FCBD comics, a Blast From The Past (Week) review and then the new stuff.
Also sorry for the lateness, I had finals and then Blogger was down for about 2 days.


FCBD Comics:

Kung Fu Panda FCBD (reverse feature of the Richie Rich comic)
I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda a lot more than I expected both in movie and comic form. The main focus is Po, the panda, as he searches for a flower to help the tiger, whatever her name is. Every other character minus the pangolin is fairly uncharacterized which is somewhat of a letdown. The art sometimes sticks with weird points as far as faces go like if you were going through a video and stopping at random frames. Other than that, I was satisfied.
Score: +1




Richie Rich FCBD
The venerable Chris Sims ranted about this special since he hates Richie Rich for understandable reasons. Richie Rich is a spoiled kid with no concept of money. He doesn't treat going to Hawaii for fun like it is big and he barely recognizes the value of being able to go to Mars twice.
What really bothered me though is a side thing. Richie Rich and his friends are 7 to 10 years old according to wikipedia and yet Richie's friend who is a girl has recognizable cleavage. Like the equivalent of a girl 6-10 years old. In a kids book. That is supposed to be setting good role models. I don't know if I am the only guy who noticed but that bothered me more than anything and this is a comic where they stop a villain who is superheating himself by covering him in tires as he floats above a volcano.
Score: -1




Thor and Captain America FCBD
The best comic for Free Comic Book Day I got was definitely Thor and Captain America. It dealt with family issues on some levels. It also dealt with Loki, Merlin, King Arthur, the holy grail, a hydra and a Nazi treasure trove. And it was done by the team behind Thor The Mighty Avenger (which they should do as a solely online series supported by readers). It wins the best FCBD award.
Score: +2




Amazing Spider-man FCBD
Spider-man had a solid premise. It had Spidey fighting Spider-Woman, it had Mandrill the living simian Axe Bodywash commercial, Spider-man learning kung fu from Shang-Chi and I am excited for the upcoming Spider Island arc now. Mission accomplished Spider-man.
Score: +1






Avatar The Last Airbender FCBD
Apparently Dark Horse is releasing a book that collects the Avatar comics that were in Nickelodeon Magazine and if they are all this calibre I know what I am getting my Avatar fan friends - the trades.
The back up feature was Star Wars but honestly I don't care about Star Wars extended continuity universe stuff.
Score: +1





Blast From The Past (Week) Review:
Sometimes I forget to read comics and because I like posting so I don't need to reread comics, I ended up missing out on reviewing this comic.


Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters and Mutants #3
Last week Herc was my pick of the week here so when I say that this is the worst comic of the week, I am really pained to say that. I picked up Wolverine/Hercules off the rack because I figured I'd check out another writer's take on the character. I really wish I didn't because I got let down by the issues so far. The simple idea is an evil talking head is making an army of dead heroes and monsters to take over the world. Wolverine and Herc try to stop it only for Wolverine to be turned into stone by Medusa. This week Herc takes Wolverine to a zombie bar run by Pluto (Hades) to try and fix it. No word why Wolverine wouldn't heal (I mean I get that petrification is more than a disease but still...). Herc convinces Pluto to un-petrify Wolverine so he can keep killing people because Wolverine is the beast at what he does and what he does isn't very nice. There is no argument. Seriously and honestly Herc could have convinced Pluto to revive Hitler with that logic. It makes no sense. The other thing is that apparently Herc apparently has issues carrying around a stone Wolverine. Herc mind you is the guy who held up the burden of Atlas. The god of strength. And this is Herc who is still super powered. Bad show, bad comic.
Score: -1



New Comics:
Off The Racks

Flashpoint #1 -
I will be honest - I have been highly and vocally skeptical of Flashpoint so far. It is a summer event that as far as I know, will not change everything forever. It takes place in an alternate universe, it focuses on characters I don't necessarily care about. Yet, I actually liked it as an establishing comic more than Fear Itself 1 though Fear Itself is a better comic overall. We get to see the alternate heroes as a secret narrator discusses the Flash's journey into the world, we meet alternate Batman and we see the Justice League equivalent. I don't care about half the people in the alternate League but Batman is Batman and alternate Batman is great. Give it a shot, I'll probably keep reading it off the racks and wait for a trade since I'm not fully sold yet.
Score: +1




Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #1
Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt is not an adaptation of the novel or Michael Cera movie which is good since I didn't want to start off with Michael Cera masturbating. Youth In Revolt is about the formation of a new and controversial heroes initiative by Steve Rogers, Captain America at law. - History Break
Civil War was all about Steve Rogers not wanting registration. Irony! - Break Over
So Prodigy I believe it is as a former Initiative opponent is now setting up a team of heroes to quell the mobs including Thor Girl and a few others I don't know. Fear escalates, people use guns and the chapter ends with the heroes getting overrun, especially Thor Girl because she has a hammer and hammers are evil. It is a much better miniseries start as opposed to last week's Spider-man debacle. Here you can feel the powerlessness. While I won't add it to my list I am really interested to see where this goes.
Score: +1




Journey Into Mystery #623
Oh man, I am a big Loki fan. I have two Loki 7-11 cups and I am proud of them. The fact that we have a good Loki-centric series though is even better. Journey Into Mystery follows Loki attempting to save Thor which scheming since scheming is what Loki does best. The story tells the backstory of Thor's goats, has Loki go on a small adventure and it is all beautifully illustrated. I am adding this to my pull list since I also really liked #622.
Score: +2



Pull List

Hellboy: Being Human
I really enjoy the recent Hellboy story Buster Oakley Gets His Wish since it was a one-shot so I took a chance with Being Human. The story isn't as fun as Buster Oakley which had aliens and cults and a minotaur but Being Human is more resonant. Hellboy and Roger the Homunculus hunt down a force that is reanimating and moving some corpses. Roger is still early in his career and is question what he is supposed to do in his life. Find out what he decides and give the comic a shot.
Score: +1




Superman #711
Oh man Jimmy Olsen's wristwatch makes a reappearance. Superman gets the key to a city and he fights a villain with his mind. This is what Superman is all about. He thinks about the problem before charging in. In the story Livewire is holding the city ransom and she's overpowered. Superman solves the problem, runs into his hero Iron Munroe and everything ends nicely with Superman talking about the American dream. I honestly teared up a bit. Best Comic Of The Week
Score: +2




New Avengers #12
I am not a big fan of hospital scenes in comics so starting it off with one did not really help. Mockingbird is in the hospital and we're still flashing back to the original top secret Avengers of World War 2. The past Avengers are fighting the Red Skull and honestly the fight is really good but I am not caring about Mockingbird enough so her being hurt doesn't pull me in. Just get back to fun stuff comics. Or do an entire issue of Sabertooth chasing Kraven's father for shooting him.
Score: 0




The Amazing Spider-man #660
Oh man, the new FF square off against the Sinister Six except they are really robots and everyone is transforming. Sue gains the Torch's powers, Ben gains the Invisible Woman's and Spider-man gains the best costume of all. Meanwhile the real Sinister Six leave something in the Baxter Building, a villain is infecting people with an insect giving them spider powers and the Ghost Rider feature wraps up. Oh, and Carly totally doesn't get a Goblin tattoo. This was a deal for $3.99. A lot of story and a lot of fun. Favorite Of The Week
Score: +2




FF #3
Dr. Doom is hosting a Reed Richards Killing Party. Less laser tag, more death rays. The alternate Reeds were released by Valeria a while ago and now plot to destroy the world, take over it or to get home without caring for the cost. It's going to take supervillains to stop them and man, if Spider-man and Superman weren't so good, this would be a pick of the week. This was less heady that the others, it had more comedy and I like all of that.
Score +1




Batman Inc #6
Holy Dead Chris Sims Batman! Okay, sorry for that. Using Holy Blank is sort of offensive to comics fans since that really isn't really a Batman thing anymore. This issue focuses on a mysterious mob boss talking to Joe Average and the Average Joes which is a great band name. They left Pennsylvania to set up in Gotham and the narrating boss explains Batman showing up around the world. We hear how Batman is using confusion to hide his company and yet he acts in the open to fight the oncoming threat of Leviathan. I am excited even more now for what Morrison is building up to and this is the most enjoyable Batman Inc yet. Just like FF, less heady stuff and more Batmen beating up bad guys.
Score: +1




The Incredible Hulks #628
I am a Greg Pak fan. He is one of the two fathers of Herc after all. In the newest issue, the Hulk and Red She-Hulk end up fighting with Tyrannus against holy church magic spacemen for Pandoras box. There is smashing, magic and just a lot of fun.
Score: +1





DC: + 3
Marvel: +9
Dark Horse: +2
APE: 0

So once more Marvel is the clear leader for me but DC and Marvel did a pretty good job and I figure that in the coming weeks I'll be reading a lot of side series off the racks.

ROUND SIX: Comics for May 4, 2011

No intro this time, y'all. This is round six. You know how it works. One lives. The rest die.

This is comics.

Here's what I got:
Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #3
Sweet Tooth #21
iZombie #13
Uncanny X-Force #9
Batman Beyond #5

Sweet Tooth #21 is one of those dinners you have at your new girlfriend's parents' house and she warned you in the car when you pulled in the driveway that her dad hasn't ever liked any of her ex-boyfriends but it's too late to turn back and you sit down to eat and you've been extra polite the whole evening and made sure to smile and be talkative and charming and it's not working. You're blowing it and you don't know what you're doing wrong or to what degree. All you know is that you want to get out of there. But you can't. You have to stay because you really like this girl and you can't leave without ruining the whole night and your chances of a meaningful relationship with her. So you stay. That's what Sweet Tooth #21 is.
SCORE: +1


Uncanny X-Force #9 could have done without the part where Magneto gets Wolverine to kill an aged ex-nazi by saying "Please... Do it for me." Everything else in the issue is great. The part in the same scene where Wolverine looks at the picture of the man Magneto wants him to kill and says "Why don't you do it?" and Magneto replies, "Because I'm asking you to do it." That's good comics. The issue has the same feel as the movie Le Samourai, which I don't know if that's what Rick Remender was going for when he wrote it, but I dug it. It's maybe not the strongest issue of the series, but it's still better than most comics.
SCORE: +1


Batman Beyond used to be on TV. Now it's a comic book. And that is pretty much the best thing ever.
SCORE: +1










The Best Comic Book of the Week was almost Sweet Tooth #21. Almost. Instead, this week's best was iZombie #13. This is a book that continues to peel back layers only to reveal another layer made out of seven more layers. What I'm getting at is there's hell of story left to be told and I'm very much looking forward to having that story told to me. It may sound corny or cliche or whatever, but this is probably the most human take on the monster genre in any medium right now.
SCORE: +2




Surprising absolutely nobody at all, My Favorite Comic Book of the Week was Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #3. Because here's the thing... I think it's time to just be honest. Every single one of us is jealous that we didn't think of President Zombie Bear Cop first. I know he took office by eating the brain of his predecessor, but he's got my vote anyway.
SCORE: +2






You know, I wondered when it would happen. And it is now. Now is the time when neither Marvel nor DC survives the score tally. With a final score of 3 points, independent publisher Vertigo Comics was rocketed to safety mere moments before the planet on which Marvel, DC and Dark Horse were cold chilling straight up exploded killing them all. The only thing that can stop Vertigo now is the irradiated pieces of the destroyed world. That or next week's brawl.

Thanks for reading, everyone! See you all later this week for more new comics reviews and extra thanks to Luke from Social Fist for reviewing a whole bunch of comics I didn't have to read!

ROUND FIVE: Comics For May 4, 2011 - Luke

Hey There DC Vs Marvelers, Luke "Koltreg" the LBFA Intern and writer from the webcomic Socialfist reporting in. Were you aware that to make money I get paid to read comics? Ok, I don't really get paid just to read comics. I do have access to a comics though since I work there and you can't bag and board straight for 8 hours. I've tried and I started to become part of the Brood. I read a lot of comics and when I saw Niles doing this blog I decided to offer my hat. And then Niles gave me his hat and it got confusing because I lost my metaphorical hat and had his but there weren't any real hats and...
I'm just rambling now so let's just get on to comics reviews.


Annual Deadpool #1
The Secret Wars Annual series continues to hit it hot on the iron for me. This issue focuses on Deadpool meeting alternate Deadpool who is really Victor Von Doom and alternate Doom who is really Deadpool but with magic and evil and he had MODOK, Hammerhead, Kingpin and Bob as henchmen. Oh and Bruce Banner is the Sorcerer Supreme who banished the Hulk. The episode had me laughing and I ended up rereading it a few times (and this is Wednesday I am writing this).
Favorite Comic Of The Week. Score: +2




Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1
I'm a big fan of the Avengers Academy as well as Spider-girl who recently got chopped series wise so this special with Arcade was really enjoyable. Death traps, team up and romance?!? I really enjoyed this issue and I hope that Spider-Girl might find a family with one of these groups when her series ends.
Score: +1






Avengers Academy #13
More Avengers Academy that deals with stuff in a weird way since the 80 page special took place before the Korvac mini-arc. This issue deals with a dance for the supervillains and since the issue didn't focus on someone selling locker space for people to store coats, I have no idea if dances are like this. Drama breaks out, issues are resolved and Hank Pym gets it on making him a furry. Overall really enjoyable and everyone ends up covered in balls.
Score: +1




Weird Worlds #5
Originally I got the series to find out what the deal with Lobo is and I got knock off Swamp Thing and kinky space girl as bonuses. There's only one more issue left in the mini series and I am not sure how it will keep on going for some of the stories. The Lobo and Tanga bits are decent enough but having a guy whose nickname is Garbage Man who then becomes a man made out of garbage pushes it down a bit.
Score: +0




Heroes For Hire #6
The first arc of Heroes For Hire ended last week but the hunt to stop the drugs and such continues this week with Spider-man and Paladin teaming up. Drama occurs when Paladin reveals he is annoyed by Spider-man and his altruistic goodness as opposed to paladin working for money. I will confess though, Spider-man in this series is pretty annoying so I will side with Paladin.
Score: +0




Axe Cop #3
It has been pretty wonderful to get Axe Cop in print since it reads so much better this way and the coloring is wonderful. The story succinctly wraps up the mini-series but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth though I laughed which made it better.
Score: +1






Moon Knight #1
Niles/Tribe One/ the guy whose blog I am posting on got me into Moon Knight and sent me down a dark lonely road of hunting down toys and comics (thanks!) so when I heard Bendis was taking over I got excited. Then the ads came with Moon Knight being part Wolverine, Cap and Spider-man and I got worried. Then I got to the end and I was ecstatic and super pleased.
Score: +1




Fear Itself: Spider-man
I came in prepared to like the issue since I liked the first Fear Itself and Journey Into Mystery and I like Spider-man. This issue just stomped on my buzz though. Theres 5 concurrent stories running or so, three about people dealing with fear, 1 with Spider-man and then 1 with rats. Spider-man is freaking out and it is dismal and dreary and generally not enjoyable even in a masochistic sort of way.
Score: -1




Fear Itself #2
I've been looking forward to issue 2 and the story sets up well with Odin preparing for war and hammers dropping all over the world. The Hulk, Juggernaut, Titania and a few other people get hammers that seem to partially mind control them. Hulk is going totally berserk and The Juggernaut is full on evil which is sad since I've been enjoying his tenure on Thunderbolts as a reformed villain. Chances are though that at the end everything will be hunky dory.
And then Washington D.C. get attacked.
Score: +1




Uncanny X-force #9
Magneto knows about X-force so he has Wolverine kill a Nazi. The end. Not much team dynamics, since we see Magneto fighting them in the preview for 2 issues later it won't mean much. I will say though, I've been enjoying this series well enough that one off issue won't bug me. Niles is free to disagree on Wolverine and Nazi killing.
Score: +0






Herc #2
I've been reading through Incredible Hercules trades at work since hearing so much about it on War Rocket Ajax and I've been enjoying them. The fact that I get a new Herc series by the fathers of the new Herc, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, only strengthens the deal. Herc ends up fighting the Hobgoblin, wins the love of the people, saves the bar from the Kingpin and so much more. I am liking Herc's time away from Amadeus Cho and the fact that he is a bartender also intrigues me. Will he need to take the Bartender's Exam? Can he make a quality White Russian? I doubt these important questions will be answered unless I ask them on the Twitter. (According to Greg Pak, Herc is working as a dubiously legal bartender and he can absolutely make a White Russian.)
Best Comic Of The Week. Score + 2


So this week's scores were as follows
Marvel +7 with both Best and Favorite Comic Of The Week
DC +0
Dark Horse +1

It was pretty much a Marvel heavy week for me so they easily won. No Superman or Batman or Superman/Batman or even Brightest Day which I read for... it is free to read. I'm interested in Niles' thoughts on the comics and what his score is so we can then argue and lose our friendship over who was right and wrong (he was right, I was wrong but for the right reasons but only in an alternate dimension).

I'll see you all next week around Thursday.