Jason Inman Comic Reviews

Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson did with this issue what all great storytellers should aspire to do. Challenge your expectations, make you see things in a new light, and tug on your heart-strings. Astro City is comics at the peak of storytelling, my friends.

If you've been loving what Jonathan Hickman has been doing with the Avengers then this book is for you. If this is your first time in an Avengers rodeo, then STAY AWAY. Then come back in six months, and buy the trade. It'll probably read better that way.

Batman/Superman #8 is a good start to the First Contact Crossover. Im interested in checking out part two. My hope is the plot gets stronger as these two duos get to know each other better. If youre fan of Superman or Batman, then you will enjoy this issue. Super high five!

Batman/Superman #13 takes an old concept and breathes new life into it. Also, while showing us just how amazing some of these supporting characters truly can be. It's a simple issue, but definitely a fun one if you are a fan of these characters.

Batman and Robin has always been the little hidden gem of the Batman books. Each issue has been solid, and this issue does not disappoint. There's heart and purpose behind every piece of action. Nothing is just for the sake of it. If you're excited about the Robin Rises event, then this issue is a must buy.

Batman Eternal #1 is a solid launch for DC's new weekly Batman book. Weekly comics are always a mixed bag, but by having your star character headline each issue, it's hard to see this train getting derailed. (No pun intended for those of you that have read the issue.) It's not too late to jump on this weekly Bat train, and get involved in the mystery.

When Batman Eternal launched, I decided to give it four issues before decided to stay with it for the whole year. After this issue, I have decided to drop the title. The idea is strong, but the payoff from week to week is minimal. By having characters fill cliched stereotypes to propel the story along, I soon fear that Batman Eternal will run out of gas. Or perhaps it will read better in trade. If you're a huge Batman fan, then this could be the perfect book for you. For the casual DC fan, stay away from Gotham.

Cyclops #1 is a fun space pirate adventure wrapped in the story of a father and son trying to learn how to deal with each other. It has heart. It has humor, and its a lot of fun. If you dont like what is going on with the older Cyclops in Uncanny X-Men, and hate where his character has developed then this just might be the book for you. I was not looking forward to this book at all. So Im very surprised to find myself looking forward to a second issue. Hop on the spaceship with Cyclops and Corsair, and see if you like it. You just might.

Daredevil #7 is the perfect mix of a Daredevil book. We have the out of the world superheroics which seem to be the course of the Marvel Now Daredevil book. We also have the small dramatic real world scenes that were the hallmark of Daredevil books of the past. Combine the two and you get a solid issue. If you are any kind of a fan of ol' hornhead, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book.

The Death of Wolverine #2 was a book that I expected to not like so I am extremely pleased that I'm looking forward to the next two issues. It's a great finale that touches on every aspect of Logan's past. Wolverine should have died years ago if it was going to be this good.

The Fantastic Four has always been about crossing into that brave, new frontier. It's a book that can lead and carry the entire Marvel Universe. That's why it's sad when it comes up lacking.

James Robinson has been crafting a contemporary Fantastic Four tale that will stand among the other great runs of these characters. Hitting its emotional turmoil with this issue, I am looking forward to what happens next to Benjamin J. Grimm and the rest of the Fantastic Four.

Fantastic Four #10 is nothing but a filler issue into the overall storyline. This plot could have simply been cut, and no one would had noticed. It's exciting to wonder where the She-Thing/Thing confrontation is going to happen, but all of that setup could have been added to a more substantial issue. This book puts the brakes on an excellent and dramatic telling of the fall of the Fantastic Four. Making this issue a real disappointment to read.

Characters and true emotion will always be the backbone of every strong story. DC shows this in some of its other books: Action Comics, Green Arrow, and Swamp Thing. Forever Evil #6 was a big explosion, gratuitous violence wrapped all in a big fan service bow. If you like your big event stories to have the same tropes of the previous event, then you will love Forever Evil. If not, you might want to read some other comics.

Green Lantern: New Guardians started out in the New 52 with a lot of promise. Now, the book seems aimless, and looking for a direction. When major character deaths mean nothing to the overall direction of your book's story, maybe it's time to go back to the drawing board.

Bonus points to anyone that can tell me what Marvel has been doing to the color scheme of its Infinity books. Do you know the answer?

Charles Soule's Letter 44 has been very strong up until this issue. However, the problems of this issue are too hard to ignore. Some of this could be attributed to treading water. Whereas every other issue of this series seemed to have an important change or event, this issue seemed to be about dialogue. I hope Letter 44 rights its course, because I think this series is an amazing concept. Plus I'm a sucker for political dramas, but if something worthy of the characters doesn't happen soon, I'm going to jump off the good spaceship Clarke soon.

This is definitely a weak ending for the New 52 Nightwing comic. Tim Seely introduces us to the new status quo while fumbling to say goodbye to his Nightwing persona. I definitely would have been interested to have read james Tynion's original script to this issue as I feel it would have been more like a true goodbye to the identity that we all know and love. As it stands, I definitely want to see what's next, but I'm very worried how good it will be.

 

As much as I wanted to love this book, something felt off the entire time I was reading it. It could have been that my expectations were way too high. That no matter what the writer did I would never be satisfied, and that certainly could be true. I'm willing to stick with the series for the next couple of issues to see if it captures that gunslinging space cowboy charm that the TV series had. If you are a Browncoat, then this is the perfect book for you. I'm certain you will love every Western minute of it. If you've never seen Firefly before than I would stay away. Go buy the series and the movie, watch it, and let those characters' story end on the silver screen.

Spider-Man 2099 #3 is not quite as good as its previous issues and very strong debut. If you're a classic Spider-Man fan, you will still find enjoyment her, but for others, you might want to skip this one.

Cheers to the superior, and welcome back to the amazing.

Only one more issue of this series remains, and Dan Slott has already knocked it out of the park in this one. What could he possibly do to top this? My prediction is that we will see another change in the Spidey status quo. I mean, we have to see something cool enough to make us all want to buy Amazing Spider-Man #1 in a month right? Whatever, your thoughts on the Superior Spider-Man, this was a solid effort and addition to the Spider-Man lore.

With very uneven art and an uneven resolution to last issue dramatics, Superman/Wonder Woman #7 is a very weak issue. Which is a disappointment since Charles Soule has been knocking it out of the park in previous issues. I do hope that this issue was the result of DC editorial forcing a Superman Doomed tie-in; depriving Soule of the pages he needed to give Clark and Diana proper resolution to last issue's developments. It would be sad to see this title sink and end before it even hits ten issues. Fly higher next time, my DC power couple, fly high!

 

Issue two of The Bunker is just as strong as the first if not stronger. Fialkov is playing the long game with the reader. Giving us just enough information about the mystery to keep us engaged, and molding deep characters to make sure we care about the characters involved. The Bunker is one of the strongest mystery comics out there, and dare I say it, possibly one of the best time travel comic stories ever. You should be reading this.

One part Matrix and one part Phillip K. Dick, The Machine Stops is an interesting look at the future. The ideas it sets up and the world that it builds is a journey that any sci fi fan would want to read. If a dystopian future is to your liking, make sure you get out there and support this indie book.

The New 52: Futures End #17 should be a great DC weekly comic. It has the best writers, artists, and Batman Beyond is a main character! Unfortunately, it seems like editorial edict is forcing this book to go in certain directions instead of the writer's guide for characters. Unless you are a massive fan of alternate future storylines, stay away from this book.

I'll miss that Helena and Kara will no longer be the Worlds' Finest team. I'm excited for their conclusion in the Earth 2 book, but thought it was a great idea that DC had a powerful book starring two kick ass women. Which is something that not many comic book companies can say out there. Goodbye Power Girl and Huntress from Earth Prime, and welcome home.