Not much to hate here. So I pick this book as a giveaway for the Baltimore City Summer reading initiative. Didn't expect much especially because I oftNot much to hate here. So I pick this book as a giveaway for the Baltimore City Summer reading initiative. Didn't expect much especially because I often do not like adaptations of movies or TV series in graphic novels/comics. To my surprise this manga style book really just rehashes the first few magnificent episodes of the hit Mandalorian tv series. This was not a bad thing since while reading this book I found myself reminiscing about how good that first season of the very first live action Star Wars tv series. The artwork was nice and the character designs closely resemble the concept art that is shown during the end credits of the show. The only with the artwork is that it is not in color. This is to be expected since this book was done in the manga style. That is the most hilarious part about this book is the fact that I wouldn't exactly say this is a manga. It reads from right to left like a manga style comic but the story itself has kind of a western storytelling flow to it. For those not familiar with the story about the Mandalorian, this book does a great job in getting the reader familiar with the universe. This may still require that new readers come in with prior knowledge of at least the original Star Wars movie trilogy. The Mandalorian is basically a western style tale set in space about a lone bounty hunter trying to make a living in the cut throat underworld of the Star Wars galaxy. We catch up with our hero, know only as Mando, who is on the hunt for an elusive criminal. After the first mission goes well our hero receives a rather interesting job from a high profile client who request the Mando's expertise on behalf of the former Galactic Empire, the main antagonists from the original Star Wars movies. In short the Mandalorian takes the job and is surprise to find out that his quarry is just a child and even more shocking maybe a "Force" that could threaten the fragile peace that is currently thriving in the galaxy. This is just a short plot description of what this book is about. I had a lot of fun reading this because I just thought that show was just so well done. Truthfully you can just go watch the series but these manga novelizations of the book could be great collectors items for any fan. Not a bad gateway into reading Star Wars in comics. Here are few Star Wars comics series I 'd recommend fans read: Star Wars: Vader Down, Star Wars, Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes, Star Wars: Kanan, Vol. 1: The Last Padawan-Star Wars: Kanan, Vol. 2: First Blood, Star Wars: Legacy, Volume 1: Broken-Star Wars: Legacy, Volume 11: War....more
A fun action romp with two of the most popular X-men. This was a welcomed surprise Marvel miniseries that I couldn't resist getting to read. I have enA fun action romp with two of the most popular X-men. This was a welcomed surprise Marvel miniseries that I couldn't resist getting to read. I have enjoyed the comic book series from this dynamic team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale for years. Like many fans I was sadden by the Tim Sale's passing. I'm not quite sure where this series falls in order of the duo's Marvel work. Loeb once again proves that he just gets the right tone for many of the popular Marvel or DC characters we all know and love. This book is no exception. The plot is simple enough. Gambit takes a trip to London to investigate the murder of a former lover who just so happened to a detective. The detective, named Alexandra, was hot in pursuit of a serial murderer of young women; that has Scotland yard and the local London law enforcement stomped. Loeb is a bit on the nose with the Jack the Ripper style murders. This leads to our suspect who to no surprise is Logan aka Wolverine. Bam! We have our plot and our heroes. Between the snappy dialogue and the occasional fight between Logan and Gambit we get a exciting quick pace read. The artwork is what you expect from Tim Sale. The colors work well with the tone of the book. My only real gripe is that the main villain, Arcade, was a bit one note. But he was really just fodder for Wolverine and Gambit to overcome. If you like Gambit and Wolverine you 'll love this book. It is not my favorite of the team of Loeb & Sale but it was not boring by a long shot. Here are a few other books from Jeph & Tim I hope you will checkout: Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman for All Seasons, Spider-Man: Blue, Daredevil: Yellow, & Hulk: Gray....more
C.S. Lewis pens an excellent allegory about heaven & hell. I have been listening and reading the Christian works of C.S. Lewis for some time and have C.S. Lewis pens an excellent allegory about heaven & hell. I have been listening and reading the Christian works of C.S. Lewis for some time and have enjoyed his thoughts on life's most important questions. He has an incredible way of saying profound things but making them easy for the average person to understand. Mere Christianity is my personal favorite work by Lewis. This was my first time reading The Great Divorce and I am glad to say that this allegory continues to expand on the apologetic ideals Lewis explains in Mere Christianity. Lewis doesn't miss a beat getting into the hard questions like, "Are We Inherently Good? What is Love? Can those who have done great evil be forgiven?" Each of the characters we follow presents man's need to want to hold on to resentment, unwillingness to let go and the pride of life. One of my favorite ghosts interaction is the conversation between the artist and the angel. The artist who is already dead is so enthralled with wanting to create art that he completely misses the point that he journeys to heaven he would be in the company of the creator who gave him the divine inspiration and skill to be the artist. He is short sighted in that he has already concluded that his artistic sight or vision can't be outdone by what he would see in Heaven. At one point he even concludes that the notion of a divine encounter and perfect sight are a childish dream. He rather bask in darkness if it means it will make him a better artist. My thought was that we at times fall in love with our skills or gifts rather than be more inclined to get closer to the God who gave us our gifts. Ultimately I think Lewis' point of this fantasy tale is that many of us would chose hell rather than to be changed to enter Heaven. If God is holy and all good one has to conclude that in order to go to where God is we must shed all the evil and sin within us. The book was filled with humor but well balanced with Lewis' apologetic message. I never felt like Lewis was talking down to the audience but instead with grace and honesty answer some the questions we often face when talking about Hell and Heaven. I am looking forward to reading more of this distinguish Englishman's work. ...more
Great book! Dc Comics has a one-two punch with Jeremy Adams on the main line Hal Jordan lead Green Lantern book and Phillip Kennedy Johnson on this JoGreat book! Dc Comics has a one-two punch with Jeremy Adams on the main line Hal Jordan lead Green Lantern book and Phillip Kennedy Johnson on this John Stewart mini series. They call it a mini series but I get the feeling that DC comics wants this book to do well. Especially since the DC Studios has a Green Lantern tv series in the works featuring John Stewart and Hal Jordan as the lead characters. I am a John Stewart Lantern fan. This goes back to the 2001 Justice League cartoon. There is a quiet nobility about his character that make him different from Hal. John always seemed calm and collected. He is an ex soldier and an architect which always made him perfect for the job of Green Lantern. If Hal is the brash and courageous hero John is more of the team player and has a determination. Johnson does a great job of not just capturing this side of Stewart but he has crafted a very personal story around an epic space adventure. It is a very interesting direction that the editors & writers for the Green Lantern books are taking the corps. I felt that Geoffrey Thorne began with some great ideas on his run but ultimately he broke too much of the lore in his run on Green Lantern. Johnson is added things while still keeping true to the mythos. The artwork by Montos is well done. There are some great visuals in this book. The colors and the sketches crackle with energy in the ring slinging action moments. The moments between Stewart and his mother are really heartfelt. This was a very entertaining read and definitely a must for Green Lantern fans. I'm glad DC comics have not given up on the John Stewart character and lets hope will see more in the future. ...more
Pretty solid. Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues a stellar run on the Hulk.What began with the immortal Hulk series by Al Ewing, Johnson adds on to thePretty solid. Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues a stellar run on the Hulk.What began with the immortal Hulk series by Al Ewing, Johnson adds on to the horror take on the Hulk. The visuals are just as important to the storytelling in this book. There are some fantastic widespread panels. I particular like the double page spread featuring the ghost rider. I also like how Johnson is infusing the book with classical and cultural myth. The Nephilim from the the bible and other local supernatural beings give the story a real world cultural quality. The Hulk and the supernatural just mix together well in the story. It is already challenging enough for Bruce Banner to conquer his inner demons but facing actual demons makes the stakes even higher. This was just a very entertaining read and I wish more of the marvel books being publish were of this quality. But even if the Hulk story line doesn't crossover into the larger direction of the Marvel universe I am happy to pick up the series every time I can read it. Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues to be one of the best new writers in comics. I am also currently reading his work on Green Lantern: War Journal, Vol. 1: Contagion. Fans will also enjoy his writing inThe Last God 1 & Superman: The Warworld Saga....more
It was okay. I'm not quite sure about all the 5 star reviews I am seeing for this book. I found this book a struggle to get through. There were times It was okay. I'm not quite sure about all the 5 star reviews I am seeing for this book. I found this book a struggle to get through. There were times I just wasn't sure what was happening or where was the story going. Don't get me wrong there are some great issues in this Tom King Superman book but ultimately this book was almost a 2 star book to me. First, Tom King has become a bit of a pariah as writer when it comes to writing for DC Comics. Even the stuff I enjoyed by him has led me to rethink my feelings on those works. What began as a unique take on superheroes in The Vision has turned to the same repeated plot threads and commentary on superheroes. Putting it lightly Tom King's superheroes are not heroic. In interviews he seems to fancy himself a follower of the Alan Moore school of superhero writing and in that lies the problem. As much as I like Watchman I don't want most superhero books to be modeled after it. The Sheriff of Babylon, Volume 1: Bang. Bang. Bang., Mister Miracle, & The Omega Men: The End is Here are books I really enjoyed but the stories are very bleek and not very hopeful. So I was a little worried going into this Superman book. Surprisingly, King writes Superman as a very hopeful character who is a beacon of hope for all the superhero community and the world at large. There are some great character cameos in the book and it does have some cool action moments. The real star of this book is the awesome artwork by Andy Kubert. This is a beautiful looking book. The colors are well done and the action looks great. My biggest gripe is there are pacing issues and dialogue issues that weigh down this story. I am not sure if it is just me but I was lost with many of the story beats. At one moment Superman is talking to Lois then he is fighting with Sgt. Rock in World War II or we jump to the fire pits of Apocalypse. The basic plot is that a little girl has been kidnapped by an alien force that only Superman is aware of and Superman doesn't want to give up on saving the girl. King does a great job highlighting that Superman can't always be everywhere and that he will fail at times to save everyone. I did not feel this came across with King's usual bleek it was just a bit over stated. There are also two WTF moments in this book. I completely either missed Supes solution to the challenge or there was a odd reaction to the problem. Example: Darkseid makes a deal to give Superman vital info on the location of the missing girl in exchange for Superman killing an innocent being. Superman as expected finds a way to get around this challenge but what happens with the innocent alien still confused me until we got to the end of the story. In conclusion, this was not a bad Superman story its just there better tales. This was just a bit mediocre. Here are few recent Superman books I would highly recommend: Superman '78, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Vol. 1: Hero of Metropolis, Man and Superman 100-Page Super Spectacular #1, Superman: The Warworld Saga, & Superman: Lois and Clark. Hope you will check out these recent modern tales....more
This one is hard to judge. As a whole I have enjoyed Phillip K. Johnson's run on Action comics. This story like his other stories is well written. I fThis one is hard to judge. As a whole I have enjoyed Phillip K. Johnson's run on Action comics. This story like his other stories is well written. I feel he really gets the character of Superman and his importance in the DC Universe. The artwork by Sandoval was pretty good here as well. My biggest gripe with this book has more to do with the current DC universe continuity. This story gets bogged down by all the nonsense editorial is saying yes to in the DC universe's larger story. I have not read Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, but I am just a bit tired of the crossover events throwing a wrench in a larger story the writers for DC are trying to tell with their respective characters. I mean Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Superman have solid series but they are hurt by the fact that the DC universe is just spinning its wheels. Another issue is that books that usually focus on the individual character are in most cases becoming Superhero family books. You have the Flash family, Batman family, Green Arrow family, several wonder girls and now a large superman family. When every hero has the same power or gimmick then are the main heroes even special anymore. Marvel is having this similar issue with the whole Spiderverse nonsense. I say all this to point out that it takes a heck of a writer to pull off giving each character in a large cast their own unique voice and personality. Mr. Johnson does that well here as every character whether its Jon Kent, Lex Luthor or Metallo sound like themselves. Jon Kent in this book actually raises a good point about what is his place in the Superman family. It is very meta as many DC fans are sore about DC comics raising Jon's age. I agree it was a big mistake to age up the character. There was so much potential stories to explore. I really love the Super Twin characters in this book but I feel the great potential of Jon Kent and his adventures with Damian Wayne is a missed opportunity for DC comics. In short this Metallo story was okay and has some great character moments. But I felt the story ends up being mediocre and held back by the unfortunate state of the DC universe as a whole. More of a three and a half star book. Here are few other great superman tales I recommend: Superman by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus, Superman: Up, Up, and Away!, Superman: Brainiac, Superman: Secret Origin, Superman for All Seasons, & Superman: Last Son....more
Pretty Good but not quite the Green Arrow book I was expecting. Joshua Williamson steps into writing duties for the new run for Green Arrow and surpriPretty Good but not quite the Green Arrow book I was expecting. Joshua Williamson steps into writing duties for the new run for Green Arrow and surprisingly it is pretty solid. First the artist team is great on this book. The colors really pop and there are some great wide shots and panels. Williamson handles the voice of Oliver Queen aka Green Lantern really well and the plot is not bad. It feels like Green Arrow is going to lead into something big in the DC universe. This book feels like a love letter to the Green Lantern mythos with many returning characters from the Arrow family such as Cheshire Cat, Roy Harper and Connor Hawke reuniting for the first time in a longtime. This reunion is the backbone of the first issues of this series. So you may say what's not so great about this book? Well basically this is not your standard ground level superhero book, in fact Ollie's story begins with him stranded in space. Also we spend a lot of time following Green Arrow hopping from dimension to dimension or time line to time line. This is a sort of a multiverse book that ties into Dc comics last event, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. I have yet to review this event since I skip it. I am just weary from all the multiverse ending events. We just had Dark Nights: Death Metal which was a multiverse altering event. I was just expecting a back to basics approach to Green Arrow but instead we are already tying this series into a larger multiversal threat. On the other hand, the story was well crafted and I didn't find it boring. Will see how the story progresses....more
Because Knowing is half the battle. The GI Joe fan in me had a huge smile on my face after reading this book. The Energon Universe from Skybound is deBecause Knowing is half the battle. The GI Joe fan in me had a huge smile on my face after reading this book. The Energon Universe from Skybound is definitely the hottest comic book universe currently being published. This is not because they just got the best artist on their books but the writers seem to love what they are writing. Duke has never been my favorite Joe. This maybe because he always seem to straight laced and quite frankly a bit boring. Williamson and his artist team have taken the bare bones of the character and infused into Duke why he deserves to be the leader of the GI Joe team and reminds us of what a hero should be. I have to say Duke's got a lot of things working against him in this universe. First, he is a surviving witness of a strange unexplained attack from who readers know as the Decepticon villain, Stars cream. The American government is covering up the incident. Duke is also up against a mysterious corporation designing technology around this extraterrestrial threat. Our hero has know idea of the shadowy terrorist organization vying to take control of the alien tech for their world domination purposes. You'll have to check out Cobra Commander, Vol. 1: Determined to Rule the World to get that side of the story. This book was really well done. The dialogue is perfect and the action is nonstop. This universe feels like its building towards something major. I have already read Void Rivals, Vol. 1: More than Meets the Eye and just have to check out Transformers, Vol. 1: Robots in Disguise. I wish DC comics and Marvel were publishing a universe this coherent but hope the Energon Universe continues to showcase to comic book publishers that this is the type of storytelling comic book fans want in their superhero franchises. A 10 out 10 book all the way....more
FANTASTIC!!! A crisis too big for one speedster to handle. It's all hands on deck as Wally will need the total might of the Flash family and other speFANTASTIC!!! A crisis too big for one speedster to handle. It's all hands on deck as Wally will need the total might of the Flash family and other speedsters to take down a mysterious alien armada that is powered by the speed force. Jeremy Adams script is superb and this concept was a great way to end his run on the fastest man alive. What's funny about this well told tale is I am not a fan of this whole superhero family with the same power set. I think the Bat Family is too big, not to mention the countless Green lanterns, Wonder women, the Superman family. When everyone has the same power its just boring. But a good storyteller finds a way. Jeremy Adams amazing dialogue and fast paced story progression just make this a must read story arc for any flash fan, let alone a superhero comic book reader. All the speedsters just shine in this story. The only reason why I can't give this book five stars is that I found the artwork lackluster on some issues. A story this great deserved better visuals. DC comics should have teamed up Adams with a better flash artist like Howard Porter, Brett Booth, Ivan Reis or even Manapul would have been great. Don't get me wrong this was a great story it just could have been a A+ book if DC comics care more about what Adams was writing here. It is bitter sweet we don't get to keep Adams on the book but this arc cements this Flash run as a must read. Here are few other Flash books I enjoyed: Flash Forward, Flashpoint,Batman/The Flash: The Button, Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold, The Flash by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Omnibus and DC Universe: Rebirth (2016) #1....more
Fantastic. Not much can be said about writer Jeremy Adams great run on the Flash. I feel he didn't always have the best of artist but with great dialoFantastic. Not much can be said about writer Jeremy Adams great run on the Flash. I feel he didn't always have the best of artist but with great dialogue, pacing, and okay illustration work these Flash stories are a great deal better than most of the series being published currently at DC comics. Jeremy Adams stories just feel fun and ooze with the hope you want from great superhero storytelling. Wally West has always been more of an optimistic character and for many DC comics fans growing up the nineties he is our Flash. The first have of the book is just a small and small adventure featuring Wally's kids Jai and Irey. It was whimsical yet I enjoyed the character interaction. The inclusion of the Super Sons aka Damian Wayne and Jon Kent was a bonus. The hole Super Kids vibe is a great concept I hope the editors consider following up on in the future. It was a big mistake to age Jon Kent up so fast because the Super sons was such an amazing series. The back half Jeremy Adams run sees Wally trying to save his newborn son from Granny Goodness and the forces of Apocalypse. Was great to see the Terrifics in this story even though they didn't get mush dialogue. It is sad that we have to say goodbye to Adams for Flash. I have been enjoying his run on Green Lantern so far. Adams just gets the DC universe and I am crossing my fingers that DC comics will consider him for a bigger title like Justice League , Superman or even Batman in the near future. The last issue is more of a celebration special with stories by past Flash writers including Geoff Johns & Joshua Williamson. The tales were fun and lighthearted. If you haven't read Mr. Adams run on the Flash please jump on it asap. Here are few DC books I recommend you check out if you enjoyed this book: The Terrifics, Vol. 1: Meet the Terrifics, Flash Forward, The Flash, Vol. 1: Lightning Strikes Twice, The Flash, Vol. 8: Flash War, Flashpoint Beyond, and Green Lantern 1: Back in Action....more
Not bad but Not as good as Jurgens last Lois & Clark entry. It should not come as a shock but to me DC comics current state is a bit of a mess. We seeNot bad but Not as good as Jurgens last Lois & Clark entry. It should not come as a shock but to me DC comics current state is a bit of a mess. We seem to only be getting few good series and miniseries. DC Comics flagship characters like Batman and Wonder Woman are currently not great. Surprisingly the Superman series have been decent. Which brings us to Superman: Lois & Clark Doom Rising and what is ultimately a mediocre book. The first thing to point out is that this collection is just a gathering of back up stories from Action Comics with the Death of Superman Anniversary story included. This comes across as a shallow money grab and fans who have been collecting Action Comics will see this as a rip off. Very clever of DC to put this out as a new graphic collection. Also the main story is very short. What are the positives? Dan Jurgens takes us down memory lane with why readers fell in love with the Superman family. I have said once and I continue to say it again Jon Kent as a kid was the best thing that ever happen to the Superman series. This book shines when get the interactions with Clark, Lois and their son. I think it is a tragedy that DC comics editors let Bendis age Jon up. The Anniversary special I feel had the best artwork but Lee Weeks pencils on the Home again storyline wasn't bad. The colors were a bit different but unique. Ultimately the story was Meh. I many times do we get an alien princess is being threaten to loose her kingdom so she seeks out Jon for help. I will admit Glyanna's villain turn was a bit of a switch for the tired trope Jurgens used for this tale. My only gripe is that the Kent Family don't go on this space adventure together as the family dynamic is the strongest element for this book. In conclusion this collection is a bit forgettable and a head scratcher because it's like the leadership at DC comics know the fanbase want this version of the Kent family back but they refuse to give it to us. With that said you are better off reading the following stories that came before: Superman: Lois and Clark, Convergence: Flashpoint, Book One, Super Sons, Vol. 1: When I Grow Up..., and read all of Jurgens Rebirth Super run starting with Superman: Action Comics, Vol. 1: Path of Doom and read Tomasi run starting with Superman, Vol. 1: Son of Superman. To me this book is worth picking up from your local library and not a buy. ...more
This book had some incohesive parts but for the most part Jeremy Adams continues to work some magic on the Flash series. My biggest gripe with this coThis book had some incohesive parts but for the most part Jeremy Adams continues to work some magic on the Flash series. My biggest gripe with this collection is the fact that the geniuses at DC comics decided to interrupt Mr. Adam's fantastic run on this Wally West Flash book for a nonsenical Dark Crisis event. I mean we haven't we haven't even put Dark Nights: Death Metal behind us yet and we are off to yet another dark multiverse crossover event. I'm just sick of events. I just want the DC universe to focus on just building a cohesive continuity for a bit. I don't mind the ocassional line wide event like The Joker War Saga or a superhero team up book like Batman/The Flash: The Button. The mentioned stories were either just a Batman Family crossover story and the other a great team up book between two DC characters that don't require writers to stop focusing on the story arcs they are telling. I refused to read Dark Crisis because it just seemed like a rehash of the story telling tropes Scott Snyder just tied up in Death Metal. With that said, Jeremy Adams and his artist crew still manage to tell a solid tie-in which surprisingly still fit into the plot threads for the Wally West story Adams was telling. It just felt like the good character moments and arc Adams had Wally on got interrupted for just reasons. So, I didn't enjoy this collection as much as the previous volume but it still had its moments. I also found the annual issue in this collection to be a bit cheesy but okay. Ultimately, the story still gets back on track once we get the Rogues and the evil mayor arc. The end of this collection felt a bit rushed though. Will Conrad & Fernando Pasarin's art remains to be consistent but there are drops in quality on some issues. I thought the old school artwork on the dream world with Barry Allen was handled great and really elevated an other wise meh story. All In All this was another enjoyable romp with Wally West aka The Flash. ...more
Awesome Sauce! I haven't been this excited to read a comic book series in sometime. Skybound/Image purchase of the GI Welcome to the Energon Universe!
Awesome Sauce! I haven't been this excited to read a comic book series in sometime. Skybound/Image purchase of the GI JOE & Transformer license is in good hands. A lot of comic book youtubers and reviewers have been raving about the shared GI JOE/Transformers universe Skybound is building. I myself have started to collect one of the series, Cobra Commander, just on a whim. I have only read the first two issues of that series and it is quite good so far. Like that series Kirkman's Void Rivals is offering fans of these well beloved properties something new. These are new characters and concepts fresh to the Transformers/GI JOE universe. What makes this story so good is that we not only get surprising tie-ins to the Transformers mythos but a unique space adventure. Truthfully the trope Kirkman is using in the series has been covered before but the fact it is connected to the Transformers universe is a welcomed bonus. There is some shocking fan service in this book from characters we are familiar with and those long time Transformers fans will be surprise to see. The plot is simple two enemies of rival warring civilizations crash land on a desolate planet and despite their animosity towards each other they have to work together to survive. Those familiar with scifi tales like Enemy Mine can easily follow the plot. Our main characters Darak & Solila are well written and as the story progresses I am glad Kirkman is slowly peeling back the layers of who our hero & heroine are and have been. The story is fast pace and there are some surprising then-what moments. It will be interesting to see how this series will fit into the larger mystery puzzle that is the Energon Universe. The artwork was good but I am hoping future artist will give us some incredible stunning planets and creatures to look. This is a space opera so the visuals can really push this comic book series to top-tier status. Definitely pick up this series if you are eager to dive into the Energon Universe. I can't wait to read Transformers, Vol. 1: Robots in Disguise & Duke Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle (1)...more
Not what I expected. I never set out to pick something to read and hate it. It pains me to say that this book was a struggle to get through. It might Not what I expected. I never set out to pick something to read and hate it. It pains me to say that this book was a struggle to get through. It might be that I am a generation or two older than the demographic that might enjoy this or the execution of the story just wasn't well done. The sad truth is there was a unique story idea here but the pacing and the excessive amount of exposition dumps drown out what could have been a good story. The artwork just wasn't my cup of tea either. There is an excessive amount of world building with the fake newspaper pages and news clips, but unfortunately whats happening with the main characters is boring. There was more talk about the revolt and the oppressive government than actually seeing it. I also found the so-called love story between Charlie & Jill a bit surface level. There is a lot of talk about sex and will they or won't they at the expense of the stakes for the main characters, their friends, and the Variants. This book let me down and I am not really interested in reading the next volume. I just found the main characters unlikable. I hope everyone has better time with this one than I did. ...more
It's a decent Swamp thing tale with superb writing matched by incredible art. First, this is a great-looking book. Doug Manke's art is fantastic. The It's a decent Swamp thing tale with superb writing matched by incredible art. First, this is a great-looking book. Doug Manke's art is fantastic. The colors by David Baron really make Manke's illustrations pop. Even though this is a horror book the artwork is just exquisitely beautiful. Jeff Lemire did a great job getting you invested in the characters and the pacing was excellent. The truth is that this is not a unique take on the Swamp thing. This was even the best last Alec Holland swamp thing story. Lemire is just telling a good Swamp thing story. I still don't quite understand what DC Black Label books are supposed to be. This book felt like Lemire was giving DC Comics his best pitch for a Swamp Thing series. There really isn't much for me to complain about concerning this book other than I have just read many similar Swamp thing stories and in some cases better books. All the Swamp Thing mainstays are here and they act like they are supposed to act. They also sound how they are supposed to sound. Of course, along with Alec Holland, we are joined by John Constantine, Deadman and Animal Woman, daughter of the original Animal Man. There are all the monstrous transformations and gritty gore you'd expect to find in a Swamp thing book. Many may say that this book is mediocre but this is only because there have been so many great Swamp thing runs through the year. What makes this story work so well is that you could almost fit it in the DC Comics continuity at any time. Lemire and crew have done a great job in giving the reader a timeless Swamp thing tale that quite simply works on all levels. Speaking of great swamp thing books here are a few of my recommendations: Roots Of The Swamp Thing TP by Len Wein (30-Dec-2011) Paperback, Swamp Thing by Scott Snyder, Future State: Swamp Thing #1, Swamp Thing, Volume 4: Seeder, and of course the legendary Absolute Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Vol. 1....more
More or Less Marvel has turned Hulk into Swamp Thing. Taking Hulk back to his horror roots is not a bad idea. Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues the stMore or Less Marvel has turned Hulk into Swamp Thing. Taking Hulk back to his horror roots is not a bad idea. Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues the story that Al Ewing started in the pages of Immortal Hulk. By the way check out The Immortal Hulk Omnibus. This tale is not complicated, a traveling Bruce Banner is on the run trying to escape a mysterious force while trying to keep his inner Hilk from taking full control of his body. Even though this is taking place in the larger Marvel comics universe, Johnson manages to write a more self-contained story. It also helps that artist Nic Klein is making this book a fun read with his hypnotic artwork. This book has some great visuals and the panels are paced amazingly well. Some pages are going to make some incredible posters. The coloring is well done also in these issues. Phillip Kennedy Johnson is knocking this out of the park. This is one of the best books Marvel is publishing currently. I am not a stranger to Johnson's work as he wrote a killer Superman tale recently and one of my favorite original works published in comics. I recommend comic readers read Phillip's writing on Superman: The Warworld Saga and The Last God 1. Both were real top-notch comic book series. ...more
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