Originally posted on May 19, 2009
 
 For some reason I had Spider-Man's Sinister Six on the brain during this review.  I had to edit out all the "Sinisters" I could.  Despite this, Secret Six #9 was an enjoyable issue.  Even for a Battle For The Cowl tie-in. 
 
  
 Would you ever consider either Catman or Bane as a replacement for Batman?  Can the Secret Six be considered "heroes"?  Does anyone like Ragdoll or just find the character annoying?  

Originally posted on May 18, 2009.
 
 We are now halfway through the six part, " War Of The Witchblades."  Who will win this "war"?  I did think it was a bit of a stretch at first that Sara and Dani would be fighting each other but it does make sense now.  It's also about time that we start seeing the repercussions of the Witchblade being split.  Will or can things ever be the same between Sara and Dani?  With Ron Marz writing, I've learned that pretty much anything can go. 

Take this issue for example.  There is a fight.  A fairly big one.  Let me just say that it doesn't end too nicely.  Could there even possibly be a death?  While I'm not completely crazy about seeing Sara succumbing to the 'dark side' of the Witchblade (as the Curator pointed out last issue), it is nice to see the power of the Witchblade cutting loose.  That's something I'd like to see more of.  Even after all these issues, we still don't know everything there is about the Witchblade. 

Let's not forget Sabine and the Angelus Warriors.  We still need to see who will become the next Angelus.

With Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic still on board, we're always in for a good time.  At the same time, we are at the halfway point of this arc.  Maybe I'm being too demanding but I would've liked to see an even bigger fight between Sara and Dani.  I know, there's still three more issues left and plenty of room for fighting.  But with some events in this issue, it's hard to say whether or not I'll get that big fight I want.  Hmmmm...

If you're already reading this title, you know what to expect.  It is well written and beautifully drawn (I love the red and blue that Sejic's been using on Sara).  For those new to the title, there is always the recap page in the beginning and a nice write up of "Sara Pezzini: Unbalanced" at the end by Bryan Rountree.  While I wanted a little more out of this issue, there is a nice shocker at the end.  There is the possibility that we may be seeing the end of a character.  Could it be possible?  Would Marz and Sejic really do this?  Like I said, you never know.  It is something to keep you thinking until issue #128 comes out.  So for me, something felt just a tiny bit off.  I'm giving this issue a 4 out of 5.  It just felt a little slow in the beginning but then too fast at the end, if that makes sense.  

Originally posted on May 1, 2009.
 
 Some of you may have noticed that Wolverine #73 came out this week.  Was it part 7 of the " Old Man Logan" story arc?  Nope.  I think pretty much everyone that has been reading it agrees that this is the best Wolverine story we've had in some time.  The fact that we have an old Wolverine who hasn't popped his claws in fifty years has been an interesting twist.  It seems inevitable that he will at the end.  What could be thhe driving force that makes that happen?  More importantly, why did we get issue #73 before issue #72 (which is out on May 20)?

I haven't seen an "official" explanation from Marvel.  This (along with a review for issue #73) is addressed in the video below. 
 
  
 We know that "Old Man Logan" hasn't been coming out on a consistent schedule.  Issue #73 is a good "jumping on point" since it's the beginning of an arc.  Could the reason be that Marvel wanted to release another new Wolverine comic while "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is still playing in theaters?  Is Marvel more concerned with gaining new fans rather than worry about those already reading the comic?  Won't there be confusion for those new readers when they pick up 73 and then see 72 in a couple weeks?

What do you think about the fact that this issue was split into two parts rather than focus on one story?  Do you feel it was misleading to have an Adam Kubert cover and not have an entire Adam Kubert cover?

Originally posted on May 14, 2009.
 
Yes, it's the Pet Avengers.  Check it out.  You might be surprised.

   
It was an enjoyable comic.  I know there will be some turning up their noses thinking this is just too silly.  If so, you're missing out on a fun time.

Who do you think the Pet Avengers should take on?  What happens if they find all the Infinity Gems?  Why is Ms. Lion called "Ms." if he's a boy?  What other "pets" might they run across?

Originally posted on May 13, 2009.
 
  
Do you think Bullseye is going to ruin Norman's "Dark Avengers" scheme?  How long do you think Bullseye can keep up the Hawkeye charade?  Who (or what) do you think the "other" Bullseye could be?

 
  
 So what are your thoughts on Barry's "new" direction?  Do you think this will be a permanent thing?  Can he escape this fate?

Where are all the New Mutants fans? How does everyone feel about the characters going back to their roots? 
 
  
 How do feel about the return of the character on the last page?  Do you think the character will be contained to this series or will other X-teams have to deal with the possible dangers.  Things were pretty messed up last time.  And does anyone think there's just too much yellow in their costumes?

In a bad situation gone good, Mark Sable, the writer for Unthinkable was detained at LAX airport after some scripts for the third issue were found (full story HERE).  Why were the TSA agents so suspicious over a comic book script?

Unthinkable is a comic about a government think tank that is formed to try to prevent future terrorist attacks.  The members were tasked to come up with possible scenarios that the government could then protect the country against.  After the group is disbanded, those attacks begin occurring.

Since 9/11, the world hasn't been the same.  We've seen the topic touched upon in different comics but I have to say I like how it is being handled here.  While the airport security that detained Mark were unaware that comics could be on topics other than just superheroes, Unthinkable is a nice change of pace.  I do love the superhero comics but there are other genres to consider as well.

Mark Sable has created a world full of terror and conspiracy that feels like it could happen "in the real world."  While it is entertaining, it also gets you to do some thinking.  While Americans mostly have faith in their country and the leaders, there's always the suspicion that we're not necessarily seeing the bigger picture.  There could be more going on that we are not aware of.  Unthinkable opens up that door.  It's going to be an interesting ride to see where this mini-series ends.  The writing and art simply worked.  Unthinkable #1 gets a 4.5 out of 5.  It's a refreshing change from the action/superhero comics that we see all the time.  I wouldn't mind seeing more comics like this taking on other genres.

Nothing like a douchey character to lighten up your day.  We don't have many comics like this nowadays.   
 
  
 I'm really curious how this is going to end.  Will he get caught?  Who's going to catch him?  Will he somehow redeem himself?  What happens when J'onn returns?

I think I may have made it clear that I simply adored The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz along with Skottie Young's amazing art.  Now it is time to return to the land of Oz and take part in the adventures of Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead.  Will this series be as good as the first?  
 
  
 What more can I say about this book.  If you've read the first 8 issue mini-series, you're going to love this series as well.  If (for some crazy reason) you were on the fence, or if you're simply not a huge Wizard Of Oz fan, this takes place after that.  So if you haven't read the original novels, this will be a new adventure for you.   
 
I could sit here and go on praising Eric Shanower and Skottie Young but I think you get the idea.  While I enjoy the superhero comics or the dark & twisted tales, this is just an enjoyable comic.  There's a reason that I begged Marvel to let me take an early look at this book over everything else they're putting out this week.  Pick this book up and give it a shot.  I really think you'll be hooked.

Originally posted May 10, 2009.

Originally posted on May 9, 2009
  
 There were some good ideas here but... Hugo Strange?  Really?  Guess we'll see what becomes of this "network" after the "battle" is over.

Originally posted on May 8, 2009.
 
 You have to love a good crossover.  We don't see a lot of inter-company crossover these days.  It seems that some publishers are too competitive to simply don't get along.  Not so with Top Cow.  Top Cow is about to release it's massive crossover with Marvel featuring Cyberforce, Hunter-Killer, the Mighty Avengers (pre- Secret Invasion) and the Thunderbolts.

The key to a good crossover is the set up.  There has to be a good reason for the different characters to meet and/or fight each other.  The nice thing about this is it's not crammed into one issue (like some past Top Cow/Marvel crossovers).  Things are set up here.  We get a taste of what is to come.  And it tastes pretty good.  We have a great creative team handling this.  Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are doing the writing with Tyler Kirkham doing the art.  It looks good and we get a credible situation to bring the teams together.

There are some minor problems.  When Ripclaw appears, the Avengers don't know who he is.  If we're assuming these teams are living in the same "universe," I guess it depends on how covert or under the radar Cyberforce is.  There is a mention that Wolverine has had a run-in with him (from a past crossover) and they get some info from his files.  The other minor issue is the fact that this takes place before Secret Invasion.  The good and the bad about that is we get Iron Man's Mighty Avengers and the previous Thunderbolts team.  So much has happened in the Marvel universe that it makes this story feel dated already.

Regardless, it will make a great arc.  I mentioned that we don't get the full blown, knock down fight in this issue.  But it is coming.  You will want to see what the set up is and what's going to happen next.  We don't have enough crossover these days.  Top Cow manages to keep them fun and credible.  This issue gets a solid 4 out of 5.

 
  
 How was the issue for you?  Did it feel just a tiny bit off to you?  Wouldn't you expect this fight to go on forever?  Were you surprised at how much (how little) he charged on Craigslist?

Originally posted on May 6, 2009.
 
 This is a review I meant to get out earlier.  The second issue of Irredeemable hits stands today and it has already pre-sold out through Diamond.  It is possible you can still grab a copy today.  If not, no need to worry, Boom! Studios will be make a reprint available in mid-June (be sure to talk to your comic shop about getting a copy).

When the first issue hit, I can't really explain what compelled me to pick it up.  I've been slowly getting into more of Boom!'s titles.  I always say you should give other publishers a try as well.  The fact that it was written by Mark Waid was a draw.  There was also something about the cover that compelled me to pick it up.  And I'm glad I did.

In Irredeemable, we are basically thrown into a world that already has superheroes.  Where we come in is when the world's greatest and most powerful hero turns bad.  That's what makes this title interesting.  What about his former teammates?  They don't stand a chance.  How can he be stopped?  That is the question. 

Normally I wouldn't like jumping into the middle of a story but here, it works.  And I like it.  In issue #2, we see some flashbacks in the life of the hero-gone-bad, Plutonian.  Mark Waid just throws in past battles as if they actually happened.  The quest the heroes of the world need to accomplish is to figure out how to stop Plutonian before they are all killed.

People seem to like the bad/evil characters.  There is something appealing about having power and not having to hold back if you don't wish to.  Mark Waid is doing a great job setting things up.  He's delivering a world of heroes and seems to have their backstories already figured out.  The art by Peter Krause is nice.  To me, it has a slight 80s/early 90s feel to it.  That's a good thing.  It adds to the mood of the book.  I'll tell ya, it just feels like this comic is already a classic and I'm checking out an older comic.  Something has to be said about Andrew Dalhouse's colors.  It's not too often I notice the coloring of a comic.  There are a few colorists whose work I admire and appreciate.  The colors  here just work.  They compliment the art and add to the tone.  We get a mixture of bright and dark to distinguish between the events.

Issue #2 gets a solid 4 out of 5.  It's fun.  It's a chance to get in on a hero and 'universe' as the title just begins.  There are questions and answers that we'll have which makes the book all the more compelling.  I am curious where this title will go.  What can stop the Plutonian?  It's definitely worth a look, especially if you want something that isn't your straight traditional Marvel or DC title.

  
 
Do you like that Terry Dodson and Greg Land sharing art duties?  (Yanick Paquette is scheduled for issue #512).  What do you think of Psylocke's return to Uncanny X-Men?  What are your thoughts on the mutants studying the parents of the first-born mutants?  Can the X-Men defeat the Sisterhood?

    
Despite the last video where I sided with the New Avengers over the Dark Avengers, I do like the team.  I do like this comic.  I just think this story was a little lacking and lasted too long.  Bring on issue #5!

 
  
 Is the is the end for Bruce Wayne/Batman?  I think we all know the answer to that.  I do have to say that if it is, this is a fitting end.  Gaiman and Kubert gave us a wonderful trip in these two issues.  And the last page was pretty freaky.

  
Should Batman be more violent and scary?  Can Dick's style make a good Batman?  Maybe we'll finally get that team of Batmen seen in Supergirl before.