Joey Garces Comic Reviews

AQUAMAN AND THE OTHERS has been consistently inconsistent for the most part as Jurgens and Medina continue to gain their footing as a creative team. #3 is not bad, but it's not good. The plot moves along in a big fashion with the reveal of the story's villain, but it must continue to gain steam and traction. #4 has been set up to be full of fireworks so let's hope it can live up to it!

If this issue doesn't get you pumped for the weekly "Batman Eternal" chances are you weren't even going to pick up the book in the first place. Scott Snyder will continue his great run with Batman into this weekly series and it should produce great moments for the entirety of its run. That being said any fan of Batman, Stephanie Brown, or Harper Row is salivating at the mouth until Eternal drops in April. It's a must buy.

Be sure to get this issue if you're a fan of either Snyder or Capullo. The pair doesn't get any better than this.

The pair of Snyder and Capullo continues to impress as the story telling and artwork are equally top notch. This storyline continues to separate itself from any of the other origin stories of Batman in the past, something that we can all appreciate. An epic finale has been set up and if it's anything like this issue then I recommend we get our pre-orders in now.

Another strong outing in the story arc that is becoming a must re-read to diehard Batman fans and casual readers alike. The best part about this arc is the failures of Batman, we are not seeing the veteran Dark Knight that can solve anything in an hour. He's picking himself up after every knockdown to prove to everyone he is the real deal. This issue gives us glimpses of the Batman Bruce will become, and I'm loving every second of it.

BATMAN: ZERO YEAR is the moment in the movie theater where at the end everyone claps in their seats because they know what they just watched was pure gold. On the day of Batman's 75th Anniversary, we are given the ending to one of the strongest stand alone Batman stories in decades. If Snyder and Capullo were athletes, this would be the equivalent of winning the championship and then immediately retiring because it doesn't get much better than this. Job well done boys.

Batman #34 is a great standalone issue that brings us backto the present day and gives us a Batman we are very familiar with. It is definetly not a pointless filler issue but instead an issue that can really make our skin crawl. I recommend it if you enjoy watching Batman deal with the unheralded scum of Gotham City, instead of his more colorful villains.

Snyder and Capullo start off "End Game" with a bang in BATMAN #35. A fresh take on the Batman mythos which pairs him up against his closest allies. It's a great package that exciting battles, clever concepts and a crazy conclusion.

Batman#36 is yet another phenomenal issue by Snyder and Capullo, it's extremely redundant to keep saying it but who's complaining? Even if you think Joker is too overused you do not want to miss this issue, we are gearing up for one hell of show and it's tough to predict how this one will turn out. One day we'll feel bad for Bruce and what Scott Snyder puts him through, but today is not that day.

Snyder and Capullo have showed us they really mean to honor the “Endgame” title. There is just no coming back from this, The Joker is done messing around, he's out for blood, and he's pulling out stops that we didn't know he was capable of.

“Endgame” has certainly proven to be one of the most exciting and unexpected Batman story arcs from Scott Snyder. With this latest head scratcher that Joker MIGHT be eternal, and that the Court of Owls is now tied up in this mess, the fun meter is at an all time high.

Batman #39 does its duty to get us ready for the final chapter of “Endgame” next month. Scott Snyder flexes his horror storytelling muscles produces a Joker at his creepiest level. The hype for next month's issue is not be understated.

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #12 is an issue that tip toes the fence between “Sweet!” and “Meh”. The writing by Greg Pak in this issue shows flashes of a very interesting story arc, one that you should stick around and read if you've been a fan of the series thus far. Besides a very inconsistencies here and there, the issue is quite fun to read and something I definetly recommend keeping on your pull list.

Batman/Superman#15 does its best to finish the arc out strong but comes up just shy of making this issue a must have. Buy it if you wanted to see how the arc ended but besides that let's hold out hope for the next storyline.

Annual #2 is a perfect stand alone issue and perfect for anyone who misses Damian Wayne and the Bruce and Dick relationship. If you haven't already, I suggest you buy this now, it's worth the price of admission.

This was a great ending to a story arc that killed off an iconic character but offered us a glimpse of what could be. This issue will certainly get some buzz going around the DC community and will produce passionate arguments from those who loved and hated what occurred. Big changes were made to Harvey Dent's character, it amazed me at least how much detail went into Dent's story and how fantastic the direction as a whole went in. I'm always a fan of shockers and that's definitely what I got from this story, Johns and company performed beautifully in sending off Dent but at least we have "Forever Evil", where he's still around and kicking in there.

Batman Beyond#5 delivers in the action department as Tim takes the Batbunny suit and wrecks the android Justice League. The series continues to get better each issue and while it's not as flashy as other series, it's a fun ride that stars a gruff and tough Tim Drake.

Bodies #2 is a fantastic continuation of the series so far and I cant wait to see where it leads. There is no real major drawback or negative aspect to the issue and while some readers may prefer an emphasis on one particular detective per issue, the way the writers have tactfully laid out each development for each detective there is no real need for detective specific issues at this time. I highly recommend this series to everyone, but be aware that this is a true mystery series and you will need to start from the beginning!

Convergence is here! After the initial glee of nostalgia #0 left a lackluster taste in my mouth. It does it's job of setting the reader up with the conceptofConvergence but I'm hoping #1 does a better jobof bringing the oomph that is supposed to surround this event.

The premise of Convergence: Batman and Robin had a lot of fans salivating for a Pre 52 Dynamic Duo and ultimately we were left underwhelmed. The addition of Jason Todd and Scarlet certainly keeps the interest up for this series but I was left saying meh at the end of the book. In my opinion I would use the money you'd spend on this book for another tie-in series.

But there must be a different writer who can convey and evoke real emotions that doesn't feel forced. Andy Kubert does a commendable job this whole series as an artist and I think I speak for everyone who says he definitely can draw with the best of them and should continue to do so for any Batman series. But his writing left us severely wanting more. With a different writer the sequel series has the potential to be very fun though.

Dark Knight 3: The Master Race #1 is a solid return for Miller and with the involvement of Kubert and Azarello you can bet that we haven't seen anything yet.

Dark Knight 3: The Master Race #2 is a well-balanced story that does a fine job of balancing three stories involving characters we are learning more about. What is going to happen now that the Master Race has revealed themselves and our heroes are up in the air. In this issue we may have gotten more Brian Azarello than Miller but this is a Miller story through and through, two issues in and both have been quite enjoyable.

The Dead Boy Detectives series is getting better with each issue and is rather fast paced, this issue like every other in this series will not bore any reader unless the concept of paranormal detective stories are simply outside of your tastes. Even then this series is worth a look. This issue especially is the most interesting by far simply for this philosophic exploration that it has prompted and I cant see where this idea is taken. Isolde has only made a brief appearance in this issue but due to what she knows of Charles mother its safe to say that she is here for quite a few more appearances and theres an equally great chance that this exploration through the eyes of those between life and death will become a well utilized device that allows for great commentary on the two greatest aspects of mankind, the two great unknowns.

Vendetti/Jensen and Booth are cranking up the drama with their latest issue, setting up a great future for all FLASH characters. The story continues to get more complex as we deal with the connecting murders surrounding the FOREVER EVIL fallout. The Future Flash arc is very interesting but with so many questions left unanswered who knows where the story will go. As the action picks up this is for sure not the series to fall behind on.

Vendetti and Jensen deliver inThe Flash #35 with a brawl of epic proportions taking place between the same person! This action packed issue is the cherry on top in regards to this storyline, the next story in this book could not come soon enough.

#32 is a very compelling issue that gives us a lot of information as to how the rest of the story line will play out. A must have if you've been reading the “Uprising” story arc, this is the best issue thus far. From the growth we see of Hal as a leader, to the dastardly deeds of the Durlans, #32 has more positives than negatives.

Episode 2 of iZombie remains on the upward trend the show started out with. It emphasized the zombie/supernatural aspect of the show but really delivered on the laughs. Rose McIver continues to impress in her take on Liv and I for one am pleasantly surprised with the show and look forward to more.

This is a fantastic stand alone issue that left me anticipating the showdown with the Metal Men soon to come. But I, and I am sure a lot of other people, wanted to see the story arc progress a little more than what was given. This is not a knock on the artist or writers because this issue was beautifully crafted, it just left me wanting a little more of the League. However I cannot wait to see what is to come next as I am sure with the addition of the Metal Men, fireworks are sure to follow.

This is another strong addition to both the Superman/ Wonder Woman series and Superman: Doomed. Praise should be given to Soule and Daniel as they successfully balance all the elements that come with the issue and also offer a new side to Superman that will impact the rest of the series. If you've been following Superman: Doomed, then #9 is a must have.

#10 does a good job of raising the stakes for the title characters as they both have to fight their separate battles to bring them together once again. The emphasis on their relationship takes more of a backseat though in this issue as most of the focus is put on Clark and his battle with Superdoom over the right to Superman's body. The stakes are raised and it certainly sets the stage for the rest of the arc. #10 is certainly worth the price!

Futures End #24 fails to capture the drama from last week's issue and it is a slight speed bump in an otherwise great stretch ofFutures End issues. There is enough material in this issue though to capture someone's attention for a duration of time so not all is lost. The big thing we're all collectively waiting on though is the moment Terry and “Batman/Joker” come face to face. Now that will be fun to watch.

The Unwritten: Apocalypse #8 is an interesting progression in the series that finally is employing its shifting state of character presence, pallet, and vernacular in a powerful way. The story is getting better and this issue is so well done that it demands to be read more than once. While the way the story and the dialogue are set up may be a bit more difficult than your average comic this isnt all that difficult that not everyone can enjoy it. Heres to hoping that issue number nine keeps this same strong execution going.