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Comics Picks of The Week 08.01.2014
Posted by AJ
So welcome to the first Comics Picks of The Week for 2014 where I list the comics that were actually to be the first ones released in the new year. Everything that has been revealed so far about 2014 promises an amazing year, I have to say. Well, for the most part at least. There are some things that I don’t quite understand, or like, but eh, it is still going to be a great year I feel.
This past week, Marvel finally launched its All-New Marvel NOW! line with Black Widow, All-New X-Factor and Revolutionary War: Alpha and they aren’t going to stop. New releases will continue throughout March at the least and we will even be getting some of these new titles double-shipped, such as Black Widow #2 which comes out next week. In other news, I had some fun reading DC titles this week, although Detective Comics #27 proved to be quite disappointing for most of the first half. And my disappointment is on several levels, not just with one particular aspect of it. But, more on that in the reviews.
My first graphic novel of the year happened to be the (unfinished) mini-series that Steve Gerber and Matthew Sturges wrote a few years ago, with the former writing the tale of a new Doctor Fate while the latter wrote about the supervillain Eclipse. Only eight issues of this double-sized series were released, but I have to say that I definitely enjoyed it and based on that, my graphic novel reading is off to a good start.
Anyway, here’s another edition of this new feature. Full reading list, as always, is available here and all my comics reviews are available here.
Posted in Comics Picks of the Week
Tags: Action, Action-Adventure, Afterlife With Archie, Agent Wisdom, Al Ewing, Alan Cowsill, All-New Invaders, All-New Marvel NOW!, All-New Marvel NOW! Point One #1, All-New X-Factor, All-New X-Factor #1, Andrea Sorrentino, Andy Lanning, Anniversary Issue, Antonio Fabela, Aphrodite, Aphrodite v2 #7, Archie, Archie Comics, Assassins, Avengers, Black Widow, Black Widow #1, Blight, Brad Meltzer, Bryan Hitch, Captain Britain, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Chris Sotomayor, Claudia Balboni, Comics, Comics Picks of the Week, Constantine, Contemporary, Countdown To Mystery, Countdown To Mystery: Doctor Fate and Eclipso, Dan Slott, Dark Angel, David Baron, David Stewart, Death's Head, Detective Comics, Detective Comics #27, Doctor Fate, Earth 3, Eclipso, Evil, Fernando Blanco, Forever Evil, Forever Evil: Blight, Francesco Francavilla, Freddie Williams III, Gail Simone, Gambit, Genetic Engineering, Gothtopia, Green Arrow, Green Arrow #27, Gregg Capullo, Gregg Hurwitz, Guillem March, Horror, Ian Bertram, J.M. DeMatteis, James Robinson, Jason Fabok, Jeff Lemire, John Kalisz, John Layman, Justice League, Justice Society, Justiniano, Kamala Khan, Katana, Khan, Khan Noonien Sing, Lee Loughridge, Loki, Loki: Agent of ASGARD, magic, Marcelo Maiolo, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Matt Hawkins, Matt Hollingsworth, Matthew Sturges, Mike Allred, Mike Barr, Mike Johnson, Motormouth, Ms. Marvel, Natasha Romanoff, Nathan Edmondson, Neal Adams, Near Future, New 52, Nick Spencer, Oliver Queen, Peter David, Peter J. Tomasi, Phantom Stranger, Phantom Stranger #15, Phil Noto Marvel Now, Quicksilver, Rags Morales, Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War: Alpha, Revolutionary War: Alpha #1, Rich Elson, Riverdale, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Science Fiction, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Shado, SHIELD, Silver Surfer, Sorcerers, Space Opera, Star Trek, Star Trek: Khan, Star Trek: Khan #4, Stephen Jorge Segovia, Steve Gerber, Steve Pugh, Stjepan Sejic, Superheroes, Supernatural, Supervillains, The Movement, The Movement #8, The Outsiders War, Tomey Morey, Top Cow Comics, Vigilantism, Walden Wong, X-Factor, Zombie Apocalypse
Detective Comics #27 (Comics Review)
Posted by AJ
Less than a year since Detective Comics celebrated its 900th issue with New 52: Detective Comics #19, an anthology issue which brought together several different creators, we have New 52: Detective Comics #27, which celebrates the landmark issue of the original series that first introduced Batman to the world as Bat-Man, the caped crusader and dark knight of Gotham who solved the city’s crime with acts of vigilantism. And again, we have an anthology issue bringing together different creators, and telling some really different stories while also giving some bonus art to fans.
I was really excited for this issue. I kind of missed the whole lead-up to Detective Comics #19 since I wasn’t reading the series at the time, but I am now. And one thing that happened this afternoon was that I was massively disappointed. This issue, in its first half, basically retells classic tales and does a hack-job. The second half, with original stories that will be carried over in future issues, is actually good. But the first half definitely bothered me, and it was the writing far more than the art that bothered me.
Posted in Comics Reviews, Review Central
Tags: Anniversary Issue, Barbara Gordon, Batgirl, Batman, Brad Meltzer, Bryan Hitch, Carlos M. Mangual, Chris Eliopoulos, Comics, Comics Review, Commissioner Gordon, Damian Wayne, Dave Sharpe, David Baron, David Stewart, DC Comics, Detective Comics, Detective Comics #27, Dezi Sienty, Dick Grayson, Elseworlds, Francesco Francavilla, Gotham, Gregg Hurwitz, Guillem March, Ian Bertram, Jared K. Fletcher, Jason Fabok, John Kalisz, John Layman, Matt Hollingsworth, Mike Barr, Neal Adams, New 52, Nightwing, Peter J. Tomasi, Red Robin, Review, Review Central, Richard Grayson, Robin, Sal Cipriano, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Steve Wands, Superheroes, Supervillains, Taylor Esposito, Tomeu Morey
Best of 2013 Part 2b: Graphic Novels
Posted by AJ
A few days ago I did my best of 2013 list for the books I had read in the second half of the year. In a departure from previous such lists I divided the books and the comics into separate posts so that I didn’t have one massive post up. Massive posts are a bit tough to handle, especially when you are promoting them on social media. And with the split posts, the directions are different and there’s no unnecessary crossover.
So, with the books already having been covered, I now delve into my favourite graphic novels of the year. A post with the best single issues will follow on later.
You can check out my top-of-the-month lists on my Reading Awards page and this list is both an extension, and a continuation of what goes on there.
Let’s see what makes the cut and which comes close then!
Posted in 2013 Reading Challenge, Book Lists, Challenges, Comics News
Tags: 2013 Reading Challenge, Alan Scott, Alfred Pennyworth, Aliens, Amazons, Anniversary Issues, Aphrodite IX, Aphrodite IX: Rebirth Volume 1, Artifacts, Asgardians, Avengers, Barry Allen, Batman, Best Comics, Best of 2013, Black Magic, Black Orchid, Book Lists, Brian Buccellato, Builders, Captain America, Catwoman, Challenge, Christian Mythology, Cloning, Comics, Comics News, Constantine, Creator-owned Comics, Crime, Crime Families, Cyborg, Dan Slott, Dark Anisia, Deadman, Death, Detective Comics, Detective Comics #900, Detective Comics Volume 4, Doctor Fate, Don Kramer, Doug Mahnke, Dr. Fate, Dustin Weaver, Dynamite Entertainment, Earth 2, Earth 2 Volume 2: The Tower of Fate, Earth 3, Eduardo Pansica, Emperor Penguin, Esad Ribic, Espionage, Event Comics, Evil, Far Future, Female Protagonists, Female Warriors, Firestorm, Forever Carlyle, Francis Manapul, Gail Simone, Genetic Engineering, Geoff Johns, Giuseppe Camuncoli, God of Thunder, Gorr the God Butcher, Gotham, Greek Gods, Greek Mythology, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Greg Rucka, Hawkgirl, Holy Warrior, Image Comics, Infinity, Infinity: Nothing Lasts Forever, Inhumans, Iris West, Iron Man, Ivan Reis, J. Michael Straczynski, James Robinson, Jason Aaron, Jason Fabok, Jay Garrick, Jeff Lemire, Jim Cheung Jerome Opeña, John Layman, Jonathan Hickman, Justice League, Justice League Dark, Justice League of America, Justice League: Trinity War, Khalid Ben-Hassin, Kid Flash, Lazarus, Lazarus Volume 1: Family, League of Assassins, Magdalena, Magdalena Volume 1, magic, Martian Manhunter, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Marvel Cosmic, Matt Hawkins, Michael Lark, Mikel Janin, Mutants, Mystery, Nabu, Nelson Blake II, Nicola Scott, Norse Gods, Norse Mythology, Otto Octavius, Pandora, Peter Parker, Phantom Stranger, Post-Apocalyptic, Princess Diana, Red Sonja, Red Sonja Volume 1: Queen of Plagues, Religion, Reverse-Flash, Robert E. Howard, Ron Marz, Ryan Stegman, science fantasy, Science Fiction, Shiera Saunders, Sorcery, Space Opera, Spider-Man, Spy, Stargirl, Stjepan Sejic, Superheroes, Superior Spider-Man, Superior Spider-Man Volume 1: My Own Worst Enemy, Superman, Supervillains, Swords and Sorcery, Technology, Thanos, The Flash, The Flash Volume 4: Reverse, The Penguin, The Question, Thor, Thor: God of Thunder, Thor: God of Thunder Volume 2: Godbomb, Thriller, Top Comics, Top Cow, Top Cow Productions, Trinity War, Urban Fantasy, Vibe, Villain's Month, Walter Geovani, Warrior Women, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Wonder Woman: Odyssey Volume 2, Wonders, Wotan, Yildiray Cinar, Zatanna
Comics Picks of The Week 11.12.2013
Posted by AJ
Looks like its going to be the month of busy weeks. The last two weeks I’ve read two graphic novels each along with all my regular monthlies and this past week proved to be no different. Both Detective Comics Volume 4 and The Flash Volume 4 proved to be exceedingly good and now I have two more series that I need to catch up on for the New 52. Tall order, but doable. And as regards the usual monthlies, there were comics across the board, in all sorts of ways: genres, publishers, characters, etc, etc. The year has slowly transformed over the months into a really solid year for comics overall.
I still haven’t made any dent in the pile of graphic novels I have to read, but I’m not too worried about any of it, to be honest. Already used to that phenomenon from my novel reading.
Anyway, here’s another edition of this new feature. Full reading list, as always, is available here and all my comics reviews are available here.
Posted in Comics Picks of the Week, Comics Reviews, Review Central
Tags: 2000AD, 2000AD Prog 2014, Amazing X-Men, Amazing X-Men #1, Andy Clarke, Ariel Olivetti, Arkham War, Azazel, Bane, Barbara Gordon, Batgirl, Batgirl #26, Batman, Batman #26, Brian Buccellato, Bruce Banner, Bruce Wayne, Caitlin Kittredge, Coffin Hill, Coffin Hill #3, Comics, Comics Picks of the Week, Commissioner Gordon, Conan, Conan and the People of the Black Circle, Conan and the People of the Black Circle #3, Conan the Barbarian, Crime, Crime Syndicate, Dan Abnett, Daniel Sampere, Dark Horse, Demons, Detective Comics, Detective Comics Volume 4, Dick Grayson, Doctor Death, Doug Braithwaite, Doug Mahnke, Earth 3, Ed McGuinness, Eddy Barrows, Emperor Penguin, Epic Fantasy, Eternal Warrior, Evil, Fantasy, Firestorm, Forever Evil, Forever Evil: Arkham War, Forever Evil: Arkham War #3, Francis Manapul, Fred van Lente, Gail Simone, Genetic Engineering, Geoff Johns, Gotham, Green Lantern, Greg Capullo, Greg Rucka, Harada, Heroic Fantasy, Horror, Howard Porter, Hulk, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Inaki Miranda, Infinity, Inhumanity, Inhumanity: Awakening, Inhumanity: Awakening #1, Inhumans, Iris West, J.M. DeMatteis, Jason Aaron, Jason Ciaramella, Jason Fabok, Joe Keatinge, John Layman, Judge Dredd, Justice League, Justice League #25, Justice League 3000, Justice League 3000 #1, Justice League of America, Justice League of America #10, Keith Giffen, Kid Flash, Killer Croc, Lazarus, Lazarus #5, League of Assassins, Livewire, Mafia, magic, Magic The Gathering, Magic the Gathering: Theros, Magic the Gathering: Theros #2, Man-Bat, Martian Manhunter, Martin Coccolo, Marvel, Marvel Knights, Marvel Knights: Hulk, Marvel Knights: Hulk #1, Marvel Now, Matt Kindt, Mega City One, Michael Lark, Mutants, Near Future, New 52, Nightcrawler, Nightwing, Ninjak, Owlman, Paul Davidson, Penguin, Peter J. Tomasi, Piotr Kowalski, Planeswalker, Post-Apocalyptic, Reverse-Flash, Scarecrow, Science Fiction, Scot Eaton, Scott Snyder, Sinister Dexter, Sinister Dexter #1, Space Opera, Speed Force, Stargirl, Superheroes, Superman, Supernatural, Supervillains, Swords and Sorcery, Team-up, The Flash, The Flash Volume 4, The Hulk, Time Travel, Tom Derenick, Ultraman, Unity, Unity #2, Valiant Comics, Various, Vertigo Comics, Vigilante, Witchcraft, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, X-Men, Zero Year
Advent Review #11: Detective Comics Vol.4 (Graphic Novel Review)
Posted by AJ
First off, apologies to everyone who was waiting for this review to up yesterday, as expected. I ended up going to a cousin’s birthday party in the evening and that took up a huge chunk of my reading time. And when I sat down to read the issues again for the review, I was just way too tired and kept dozing off in the middle. So once again, apologies.
Now, for the review. Given the immense proliferation of Batman-related titles in the New 52, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run is the only one I stuck with when I begin reading comics again last year. It was a maze of titles and I was unsure what to pick up. Recently, my fellow The Founding Fields reviewer Bane of Kings was talking quite highly about John Layman’s run on the title so I decided to pick it up from its fourth volume arc, starting on the special #19 issue which commemorates what would have been the 900th issue of Detective Comics had DC not renumbered their titles for the New 52.
And I found that I quite enjoyed these issues. Layman’s writing is fantastic, easily a match for Snyder’s and the same can be said for Fabok’s art, which is just as good as Capullo’s but is stylistically different. Whether its the special, or the conclusion of the Emperor Penguin saga or the League of Assassins one-shot or the three-issue arc with the villain Wrath, I enjoyed both the writing and the artwork. Fabok is already a favourite and now I’m a Layman fan as well.
Note: Some minor spoilers for the backups are mentioned in this review.
Posted in Comics Reviews, Review Central
Tags: Alfred Penn, Andy Clarke, Batman, Blond, Comics, Comics Review, Detective Comics, Dezi Sienty, Emilio Lopez, Emperor Penguin, Gotham, Graphic Novel, Graphic Novel Review, Jaime Mendoza, James Tynion IV, Jared K. Fletcher, Jason Fabok, John Layman, League of Assassins, Penguin, Review, Review Central, Scott Eaton, Superheroes, Wrath
Advent Reviews Day 1: Batman 2012 Annual by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Posted by AJ
As I mentioned in latest update from 29th November, I’m doing a review a day for December, as part of an Advent Reviews Calendar for the month to get into the festivities. I’m kicking off the series with this review of Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV’s excellent 2012 Annual for their New 52: Batman run, which is ongoing.