Brad Wiegele Comic Reviews

Superman is the best humanity has to offer. Even if he isnt human. As I read the last three pages, I had a smile from ear to ear. Grant Morrison knows exactly what makes Superman great. Its nice to see he finally brought that back to Action Comics.

Animal Man #0 is a prime example of how to do a revised origin story. Lemire tells it from beginning to end with no fluff or pointless tangents. It serves to give new readers what they need to know about the character, while still giving longtime readers plenty of new info. Many origin issues can feel like pure recap that can make dedicated fans feel like they got nothing new. Animal Man #0 is must read for fans of this series. It answers BIG questions about Buddy, his powers, and his role in the coming war with the Rot. If youve slept on Animal Man until this point, get on now, because I have a feeling this is the last breather we are going to get for months as Rotworld approaches.

Grant's story seems primed to explode with action. Bruce is ready and has all his pieces in place. All that is left is for someone to make the first move, and then watch Morrison's epic run on Batman come to a (hopefully satisfying) conclusion.

The story isnt as simple as it may appear on the surface, there are subplots brewing for sure. Edisons sidekick/assistant Malizz keeps questioning why they havent just conquered the world yet and it can only be a matter of time until this pushes to confrontation. There is also the mysterious final page leading us to believe there is a much bigger story going on than just one mans longing for redemption. Edison Rex is a fun read and a fresh take on the superhero genre. Roberson keeps the tone light and there is plenty of action. If you love the glory of Silver Age and over the top characters with crazy names like Mutortoise, then you need to go drop .99 cents and check this title out.

If you're one of those people who have put off buying Edison Rex because it's only available digitally, quit being silly and go check it out right now. This is a book that has been getting stronger and stronger with each issue and you don't want to be left behind.

Cubs in Toyland was about so many different themes and somehow Willingham finds a way to bring them all to a satisfying conclusion. I wasnt sure if Id like the ending of this story given how the previous issues made it seem as though nothing good could come out of it. In a story full of darkness and bleak moments, how could it end on any sort of up beat? Willingham wraps up his story in a way that reminds us that in the darkest hours, victory may still be had. But that victory may come at a terrible cost, and those that live on must bear the weight of that burden. Cubs in Toyland may be over, but Therese Wolfs story is far from over. Bill Willingham is not afraid to take chances with his characters and make drastic changes. Fables is a series that is constantly evolving. Its unpredictability and Willinghams confidence in the direction of his story are why Fables is one of the best reads on the shelves.

You would think that being a stand-alone story, Fairest would use issue #7 to take a bit of a breather. Instead what we get is a great murder mystery with huge repercussions to be reflected in the greater Fables universe. Bill Willingham doesnt let just anyone play in the Fables sandbox. Its good to see that he will entrust major plot points to be revealed even though he isnt writing the book. It helps give more weight to the series as a whole, as well as not allowing people to try to pick and choose what issues to get. You want the whole story? You best not miss one single issue. Many series try to pull off spin-offs with little or no success. In the case of Fairest, I think the Fables world has been growing for long enough that a second title of stories is not only warranted, but welcome.

The Flash #0 makes a great starting point for readers wanting to check out Manapul and Buccellatos run on the book. Its a story that isnt bogged down with tons of references to the previous twelve issues. Issue zero is allowed to stand on its own as another piece in the mythos that Manapul and Buccellato are crafting. Eagle eye readers may even spot a possible huge tease for the future of the book. I may be reading too much into it as a long-time Flash fan, but that inmates last name was pretty damn familiar. Manapul and Buccellato are ready to start their second year on the title. As long as they are the creative team, Flash is one book that will have me racing to my local comic shop every month.

This story isnt without its faults. We finally get to meet the first lantern that has been teased for months, but we dont get to actually SEE him. I was also disappointed with the way the Guardians create their foot soldiers for the Third Army. I wont spoil it except to say it feels like something we have already seen before. Johns has been building to this point for a year now and there seems to be great potential for an epic story to unfold in the coming months. The Third Army is primed to give the Green Lantern universe a hell of a lot of trouble, and with the Guardians working against their own Corps. it will be interesting to see how Hal and the gang get out of this one. I just hope Geoff Johns and take the momentum this issue brings and carry it through to the end. If he can, the next few months are going to be very exciting for Green Lantern fans.

If youve never sampled Golden Age horror before, Haunted Horror makes a great introduction. The stories round out nearly everything you could want from a collection of creepy tales of murder and betrayal. Its fun to see certain themes repeat across the different stories. Corrupt business partners and stealing the other guys girl are still repeated to this day, though in a much more subtle fashion. The stories may seem a bit dated, but thats part of the fun. Its seeing how things used to be and imaging what it was like in those times. To a kid growing up in the early 50s, these stories would probably keep you up at night. Im a big fan of comics past, and embracing it for everything it is, campiness and all. There was a time when horror books dominated the market. Haunted Horrors is a perfect introduction to a large part of comics history. Give it a shot and you might find yourself starting a whole new section in your collection.

If you are a fan of Adventure Time, Marceline and the Scream Queens is just what you would hope for. Its like a goofy, post-apocalyptic Aesops fable. Situations arise, challenges are met, and lessons are learned all while having a blast. The tone of the humor is pitch perfect compared to the cartoon and Gran and company have their characters personalities nailed down. Marceline and the Scream Queens #4 will entertain every fan who knows the answer to the question What time is it?

The unsung hero of Sean Murphys storytelling has to be the emotional weight that Gwen has as a character. Very much the sympathetic protagonist for the first three issues, Gwens journey may just be the most compelling of all the story arcs in PRJ. Murphy keeps his cast fairly small and manageable. With only around six main characters, Punk Rock Jesus has the time to flesh each character out and give them a genuine, humane feel. All of the characters are flawed, and thats what helps us sympathize and relate to them. The title may be an attention grabber, but Punk Rock Jesus has the substance to back it up. Sean Murphys story is so much more that I was expecting when I opened the cover to issue one. He has proven that not only is he one of the most talented artists working today, but he can also write an entertaining and thought provoking story.

The parallels between the reality TV obsessed future and how todays media treats celebrities is stunning. Spaceman is much a warning to us as it is a tale of little girl being taken from her parents. We better be careful how much we let the media run our lives or this could be where we are headed. Spaceman ends in a fully satisfying way. The fate of Orson, as well as Carters endgame both felt as though they paid off extremely well. The last line of the book is perfect Azzarello. Its a classic play on words, and one that the reader could have seen coming if they paid enough attention. Azzarello and Risso have given us another classic story and the end has me impatiently waiting for these two creators to team up again. Consistently good creative teams are hard to find and these two are a match made in heaven. Or maybe Mars.

This zero issue doesnt help the books momentum going into Rotworld, but may have been a necessary evil in DCs big Zero Month event. Its still the trademark brand of creepy horror the book has been known for. The break-neck speed at which the story has been moving just gets slowed down for a month. I cant imagine it will last long. Rotworld is almost upon us and I still cant wait to see what Snyder has in store.

The Manhattan Projects may not be for everyone. Those who prefer the standard cape and tights fare may be put off by the level of weird the MP goes too. I like stories that go outside the box. Manhattan Projects doesnt just do weird for weirds sake. Every insane happening has a purpose. More often, that purpose is to raise questions about the world we live in today and how it parallels the marvelous sci-fi alternate reality the Hickman and Pitarra are creating each month. The Manhattan Projects is an incredibly fun, rewarding look at the fictional history of the United States. By using twisted versions of historical figures like Oppenheimer and Franklin Roosevelt, Hickman adds that little extra credibility to his story. It makes it easier for the reader to jump in and accept that sometimes the fantastic can happen in the mundane world. It just so happens that in the world of the Manhattan Projects, the fantastic happens on nearly every page.

DC has had much variety in the goals that each Zero issue has strived towards. Some have been basic origin stories, while others have offered up hidden details previously unknown about their characters. Wonder Womans offers a look at her past and some of the moments that help define who she is as a person. We get to see where her values come from and how she developed her moral barometer. While there are no Earth shattering revelations to be found, Azzarello and Chiang give us a solid story that teaches both the reader and Diana many lessons. If anything, we have learned that the Gods of Olympus are much more complex than just sticking to the themes that they are named after. Can a God that is breed of violence show compassion? Maybe the Gods of old are changing. Perhaps this is the first step into ushering in the new gods.