The world is trying to progress. The city wanted to design robots to become the backbone of the city and do all the manual labor. However, the company that won the contract to make these robots decided to cut corners. What is left is lazy, abrasive, and horny Shmobots. Miles (the main human character of the story) lives with three of these Shmobots in an apartment: 69.5 (who has amazing movie ideas), Rusty (mean spirited drunk), and Eyeballs (who always starts and ends his sentences with "Eyeballs"). They all have this great band together called "Tetrahedron." The main story in this book is that there is someone going around town killing other Shmobots. Are Miles and the gang trying to solve it? No, they have a show to prepare for. Other than that, this book as a lot of smaller stories going on such as Rusty trying to get a date with a waitress, prostitutes who please robots, and strip clubs. The 117 page book ends with the guys accidentally finding out who the real Shmobot killer is, then going home and watching television. 
 
When I bought this book (after looking at only one page, the page where 69.5 describes his first idea for a movie) the writer's name kept gnawing at me. "Adam Rifkin. Where do I know that name from?" I came to my senses the next day, after looking him up, that he is the writer of three films I sincerely enjoy: The Chase, Small Soldiers, and Zoom. The writing is solid though, even with all the side stories going on. It's comedic and actually "laugh out loud" funny. The story is also solid. Essentially it's generation X in robot form with robots having their head's cut off. Now, this book is not for kids.  It's definitely an adult read. Even though all the cussing is crossed out, the book contains quite a bit of sex, drugs and robots playing rock. It's all in good fun though. Les Toil does all the art on this book and it really does the story justice. The shading on all things metallic is probably my favorite thing out of the art. The robot design themselves are great too. You can tell by a quick glance, at any of the characters, that these robots are pretty worthless. Eyeballs has to be my favorite out of the designs. He looks like a toy I had as a kid, but after extensive internet searching, I cannot find what the toy was called.  

When it comes down to it, at times I was a little annoyed with the amount of swearing crossed out in the book, and sometimes it seemed like there was too many side stories to keep track of. It's 128 pages and only costs $14.99, I consider that pretty awesome. In addition to 117 pages of story, you get 11 pages of character designs: also pretty awesome. Overall, this was a well drawn and well written comic extremely worthy of the Boom! Studios stamp and the first on my list of "Indy Trades You Have to Read." I can only hope Rifkin and Toil work together again on a book as bizarre, interesting, and hilarious as Shmobots was the first time I've read it. (I've read it three times now, and yes it's still just as awesome the 3rd time through)
 
Shmobots: 4/5

 

::hits snooze button::
Jerry Ordway? Wait... I usually like that guy, but just his art... His writing, well, it isn't the best. His art also looks really rushed for this issue. This two-part story really has a Silver-Age edge to it that not only was I not expecting it, I really didn't care. So now I wait for the new team to take over at 29. I love the JSA team and when they have a great team on the book, the book is unstoppable, but this issue, pass it by, for your own sake.

It's been a while since I reviewed anything, but this book made me get up off of my butt and do some writing.

Let me start off by saying that I had very low expectations for this book. I'm not the biggest fan of Batwoman. I never really cared for the character; however, it's a Gotham City book, and I love my Gotham City tales. And this book was amazing. Rucka's writing is solid, this was a given. He really did make me care about this B or C-List character.

So what makes this pick of the week? For the first time in my comic reading career, the art is what made me pick this book as the best of the week. I hate intrraweb acronyms but.... OMFG! Two different art styles, both awesome. One more cartoony and brightly colored when she was in Katherine Kate mode and another darker, grittier, tri-colored mode for Batwoman mode. It was exciting, new, and beautiful.

Williams panel composition while Katherine was in Batwoman mode was beautiful. Pages that at first look like splash pages that turn out to have small action filled panels buried in the background is one of the most amazing compositional pieces I've seen in quite a long time...

Now, The Question short in the back was pretty good, but after reading a great book like this, I sadly didn't care for it as much.

Page 1: Fight
Page 7: Fight over
Page 8: Power struggle
Page 14: sub-plot
Page 32: Splash Page Reveal

All of this happens with a little bit of sprinkled angst. I'm sick of this comic book formula in all of these newer C-List books. TRY SOMETHING NEW!

LISTEN: I bought this book expecting the Young Avengers, not a bunch of "take no prisoners", ultra-violent, douchebag teenagers who are as "X-Treme" as 1996. I hated this book. I hated it more than anything else I've read this year, even most of the garbage review stuff. Where are the Young Avengers I love? Those 12 issues of the original mini-series were some of the best issues Marvel ever put out. And since then, EVERY mini-series has fallen flat. Sad thing is, I'm going to continue to read this, like every other YA mini-series because I'm a sucker for the team.

Why two stars?:
1. I really liked the art work. Marvel's artists have stepped out of the Jim Lee mold and moved into more of an Animated Series style, I enjoy it very much so.
2. The characters seem interesting. Once you get past the caked on teen angst and hardcore douchebaggery, there MIGHT be something there... Time will tell.
3. The final page had the REAL Young Avengers on it.


Marvel has disappointed me... yet again... Way to go.

No, I'm not kidding, this book was ridiculous, in a good way. So, if you haven't read the plot summary, then you don't know that this is about a group of Super-Powered animals, and one non-super powered dog named Ms. Lion (shh, he's a boy dog) that find an infinity gem and they go on a search for the other ones.

::standing ovation::
Thank you Marvel Comics, thank you. This book's plot is so out there that I finally believe in the glory that was once Marvel Comics. The book isn't "laugh out loud" funny, but it is hilarious in it's own right. I get incredibly sad though that everyone is mean to Lockjaw, obviously the best of the Pet Avengers. My favorite part of the issue was Frog Thor (Throg) explaining his own origin. Again, ridiculous and awesome. Pick it up, read it... enjoy Marvel gaining back it's sense of humor.

It's nice to see a new series start where 8 pages of the first issue are dedicated to the newly formed team bickering and then fighting each other. For the late 80s, it's comedic gold. The sad part, slim-to-none have read it on the vine. Giffen & DeMatteis really capture each character very well in this first issue. Batman is a controlling jerk. Guy Gardner is a goofy controlling jerk. Captain Marvel is an excited 12 year old in a super-powered adult body. Mr. Miracle has to explain over and over that although he's from Apokolips, he doesn't have all the answers. Great writing, a lot of fun.

It's such a simple story too, but it is done incredibly well. Terrorists take over U.N. Building, team that can't stop bickering swoops in and saves the day, kind of. The artwork is classic late 80s artwork, it does what it is supposed to. There are a few panels that are pretty reminisant of Frank Miller's work on Dark Knight Returns, mainly the television shots, but all-in-all standard work that I grew up with.

Like I said before, the writing is what makes the book great. Don't get me wrong, I love the artwork, but how DeMatteis and Giffen capture these classic, and not so classic, characters and their personalities is what drives me to continue reading it.

It's hard to pick up and read a comic from an indy label when so much of it sucks. Ape Entertainment, however, does a great job of mostly picking up series that don't suck, and WPF is the best of the lot. Now, let me say first, it's hard to review a book written by two of my buddies (the artist for the shorter story in here is also my buddy! I have friends) without sounding like a douchebag friend, I know this. But, after you get done reading this, go find some other reviews of this book online. There's a reason Wiazrd gave the original fun one of the top ten issues of 2007 (they got number 6 right below Captain America!).

The Double Feature issue isn't the best of the series, but it is my favorite. We have three different stories here, all of them really good in their own way. My favorite is Beetle-Mania written by Eric Hutchins & drawn by Micah Farritor. Hutchins & Anderson (the other writer of the series) really do a great job of recapturing not only the 50sesque atmosphere, but proving to me again why I love monsters/aliens/giant beasts. Brian Mead does the art for one of the smaller stories in this book, and he has a style that mixes 50s pulp with Darwyn Cooke, and it is great work. If you love 50s sci-fi, great writing, great art, having fun, being a kid, being an adult, or comedy, you WILL love this book.

When I first heard Van Sciver dropped off of Blackest Night, I was pissed. then I heard he was doing this book, and I was excited once more. If you love the Flash mantle, you'll love this book. If you don't know too much about the Flash, or you're not sure about him, you'll love this book. Most readers today aren't entirely too familiar with Barry Allen. Or as I call him, CSI: Barry Allen. This issue is a lot more about Barry dealing with being back and being a part from the Speed Force more than anything. It also has a lot to do with how the other Flashes accept him, or how they don't accept him in the case of newly returned Bart Allen. Sure, there are some other things going on in this book such as the return of lesser known rogue Salvitar, but the main focus is on all the Flashes. For me, the two best parts of this issue were Jay's story about how Barry made him want to be the Flash again, and Barry & Hal reuniting at the Flash Museum. Obviously, this book is extremely well written, so far it may become my favorite Johns piece and Van Sciver's art is amazing as always.


Whether you only read DC, Marvel, or anything else. Whether you love or hate the Flash, pick this book up, it was great.

This book has been great, so far, but this issue seemed a little lack luster. The story is just ok at this point and the whole purpose of the issue this week was, "Hey... Look what this character looks like in the future!" Black Bolt, Emma Frost, Doctor Doom...ugh. They don't really seem to add too much to the story other than trite expositional dialogue. This issue wasn't a quick read though, like the other ones, which was nice. I still recommend it and think it is one of the better Wolverine stories, just don't get too excited about this issue, the story kind of bites it here.

That's right, I literally read through this in 3 minutes, and you know what? I didn't mind. I really enjoyed the art on this book. Opena's work is easy on the eyes and quick to go through. You get just enough detail about what's going on in the panel and then your eyes glaze over to the next one, simple stuff, a lot of fun. The writing? well, there isn't too much of that. Sure, Remender set up the panel structure with the writing, but there wasn't much to actually "read". I'm incredibly interested in this book considered the current Frank Castle Punisher run sucks, at least the current story does. So I highly recommend this book, it's a lot of fun, and it won't take more than 5 minutes to get through.

That's right, literally three years after issue #2 came out.... Here comes issue number three, into your bedroom, with a dozen roses, telling you over and over, "I swear baby, nothing happened!" Well, something did happen, you were gone for three years. But hey, at least they're taking the time to come back and finish it, which is more than I can say for other series.... AHEM... kevin smith....

You may noticed I only gave this puppy 3 stars, that's right... 3 stars. Well, it's only a three star book, and all three of them go to the art. Lenil Yu has been my favorite artist since the first time I saw his work in High Roads, which isn't on the vine... I'll have to do that then. He's the ONLY reason I read secret invasion and now the only reason I'm reading this book. I'm also really liking Dave McCaig's colors on this, he works really well with Yu's style. The story... well, lets be honest.... You're buying this book for the art and nothing else. I love the fact we get to read the debate over which of Wolvie's legs Hulk is going to eat for numerous pages... That really adds to the already mundane story. The writing doesn't suck, it isn't great, it's just ok... Oh, and for the hell of it... Ultimate She-Hulk.... yeah.... whatever.

So, pick it up if you love Yu's work, or you're a Wolvie or Hulkie fanboy, otherwise, look through it, and put the book back on the shelf.

Stupid youtube makes longer videos skip... BOOO!

Before anyone could complain, I found a DC book for 50 cents to review, and it is a crapheap. Lets start this one off right.

Awesome Ads:

• Krusty's Funhouse for Sega, NES, and SNES: I remember it being a lot like Lemmings, but with Simpsons characters.
• Cool World The Movie: A Brad Pitt film! I was in love with the main character as a kid. This is when big time movie companies were trying to turn on 10-14 year old boys with animated sex....
• Top Gear for SNES: the ad says, "Shift Happens" when I was a kid, I'd cover the "f" with my finger and be the talk of the town... hahahahaha it says, "Sh!t"
• Honey, I Blew Up the Kid: I thought it was the "baby" not the kid..... Oh well, this movie sucked, much like the comic.
• Frankenweenie: One of Tim Burton's first films... It's awesome.
• KISS Revenge Album: Screw Ace, Peter, and the make-up! We wrote Lick It Up!

Enough of that now.... This issue has the tendancy to tell me to buy other issues.... And I don't want to. This is what they'd like me to buy, so I completely understand what's going on: Green Lantern #25, JLE #38, Crisis on Infinite Earths (all), Green Lantern #25 again (that's right, twice), Aquaman #5. Why don't they just ask me to buy every single DC book? Thanks DC, you whore! Aside from that crap, here's my main problem... Maybe it's because all I really know of Elongated Man is post-Identity Crisis, but the guy is extremely wacky, like Plastic Man wacky. And PowerGirl is a feminist? I can tell by the haircut. There is A LOT of bad dialogue in this book, it's really hard to get through. It's like reading the Watchmen, but horrible. Then at the end they fight one of Mole Man's monsters... wait... He's not? Um... They fight Chthon..... This book is obsolutely awful, hard to read, and just not fun. How dare you JLE... How F'N dare you!

I won't do these often, this took longer to do than expected.
Yes, the lighting sucks.

I'm back, against my own free will. The terrible comics won't let me go, and this series I'm reviewing today is a stinker. I present to you, the M2U masterpiece, "J2". He's the son of Juggernaut! In fact, every hero or villain in the M2U is the son or daughter of someone super-powered, it's annoying. Marvel splits this issue into three parts, I'll sum up all three for you in sections, with just enough detail to not make you want to punch 90s Marvel in the face.

• Part I:

Zane Yama is the son of Juggernaut, he knows he is too. They make sure to tell you that his mother changed her last name back to her maiden name and that's why he's not Zane Marko. thanks for the tidbit Marvel, I couldn't have figured that one out on my own. Zane is a high schooler and gets picked on by all the bullies, a lot like EVERY Marvel character right before they discover/accidentally get their powers... Oh wait, now Zane is a naked Juggernaut, running through the school.... Ok.... Now, he smashes the bullies motorcycle... all right... Now he's Zane again, but fully clothed.... That's it?

• Part II:

Zane has powers now, so he better have a stupid costume to go with it. He finds his dad's old costume and paints it silver, then ties a flannel around his waste... It's 98' at this point, Marvel missed out on the whole grunge thing by two years, that's a little embarrassing. Then he calls himself J2.... Awful.

• Part III:

Zane is at the local fair with a pretty lady, hey... the bully is there too! Wait, now there is a guy in purple with rollerblades threatening people? J2 comes along, punches him, turns back into Zane and then the bully says they're best friends.... J2, not Zane.... What a giant piece of sh!t.

Spider-Girl was the only half-way decent thing to come out of the M2U, so don't bother with this book, just read my reviews and feel bad for me.

Wait a minute.... It's 2009... It's been 16 years since this book came out, and this book still isn't worth anything! The guy at the comic book store lied to me those many years ago! I even bagged AND boarded it!

This garbage reads like Hasbros Upcoming X-Men Toys list. Reused art... ugh... There is some extra Prof. X stuff at the beginning and end, but not enough for me to spend the majority of my allowance on. The book cost $1.75 back then. I made $2 a week, yes my parents were cheap. I had .25 cents left to spend on gum... This sucks, almost as much as the writing sucks. Each character has horrid dialogue next to them. Don't believe me? Check this crap out!

• Bishop & Wolverine: Hunters, born & bred, in a world too weak for them. They catch the scent of trouble and think they know the intent of the prey.

WTF? It gets worse...

• Cable: Play the game with me one last time mirror-friend. Run through time with me in race against the repetition of sins we've endured and caused over and over again.

Someone needs to get out, or some friends....

File-books like this one still exist today, and they're just as horrible. I'm done talking about this crap.

Everything I've been reviewing the past few months has been great, it's time for that to change... I just found a stack of early-mid 90s books. Let the games begin!

Lets take a trip back to when I was 12 years old, shall we?
NAFTA started, Cobain killed himself, George Foreman becomes the world's oldest heavyweight champ, and I bought X-Force #30... what a sad year.
But, look who's on the cover... Adam X-Treme! Man, he probably loves Stone Temple Pilots... Just like me! Seriously though, this issue sucks. Look at the cover for christ's sake! Adam is looking right at the reader, almost winking at them saying, "Dude, come on... Generation X for life! Slackers rule! I got Shatterstar's sword, just buy the sh!t already!"
Ok, the book is written by Nicieza, sounds about right.... And drawn by... Wait... I can guess...

• Disappearing backgrounds: Check
• Feet hidden by smoke/word bubbles: Check
• Everyone stands in a fighter stance, even when hanging out: Check

It's gotta be Rob Leifled.... Let me check....
Tony Daniel? WTF? I love this guy now, especially his Batman run, and this book looks like a Leifeld wannabe....

Ugh, it's awful, I want to puke. Lets get back to the awful writting... I like Fabian's work, now, not back then. And after reading half of this cameo-packed book, I've realized he was high, probably on opium. Don't believe me? Look at the issue page... There is no reason this many characters need to be in an issue roughly about four people. And to boot, Arcade is the main villain. What was wrong with me? I had an "X" addiction, I bought everything with an "X" in the title.

You know what the only saving grace is in this book? The ads. Lets go through some of the best ones:

• Wayne's World 2: I'm from outside of Aurora (where the movie supposedly takes place) so automatically, I saw it three times in the theater.
• X-Men Mutant Gear: Marvel comics meets 90s hip-hop culture.... Awesome
• Eternal Champions for SEGA: A more forgetable 2d fighter... It sucked
• Fleer Ultra Football Cards: which comic nerd likes sports? Back then, everyone...

Hope you guys enjoyed the first of many Garbage reviews.

I've always thought of Neil Gaiman as a great writer, but never paid too much attention to his comic book work. Sorry, I know I offended you already. I read Batman & Detective on a regular basis and wasn't too excited for the Gaiman run, I was more excited for Kubert than anything. I read through the book and was immediately sucked in. I'm not sure if what happened in the book is mainstream continuity, but I kind of hope it was. Gaiman brings up some really interesting issues in this first part, none of which I'll say here, just read the damn thing. The issue addresses "what is sanity" quite a bit, but in a way I've never thought of. It's the first time, in a while, where I paid $3.99 for a book, and I'd gladly pay $3.99 more. I didn't think anyone, in my eyes, could topple some of the Batman storylines that Morrison came up with (Three Batmen and Batman and Son are phenomenal stories). This, unless the second part sucks, is right up there with the others. Plus, you're getting 40 pages. You pay a dollar more, and you get more pages, take that Marvel.

Buy it now, or you have brought shame upon your family.