Blog Archives
Comics Picks For 12.02.2014
Posted by AJ
A stable week for a change and this meant that I was able to read some more comics this time. Didn’t get through quite as many as I wanted to, and I certainly didn’t get around to reviewing as many as I wanted to, but that’s fine really. Gotta take a bit of an occasional lighter load I think. Most of the Marvel books I read this week weren’t all that impressive (as the top picks at the end will show), but DC was better. And Vertigo’s newest series looks to be damn good too, can’t wait to check out the second issue of that next month.
And I did manage to begin my Flash New 52 read-through finally with volume 1 last night, so that’s something there. Planning to read a lot of graphic novels this year, mostly in terms of catching up with series I’ve missed out on, so we shall see how it all pans out.
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: 31st Century, Action, Alan Cowsill, Andy Lanning, Atomica, Barbara Gordon, Barry Allen, Batgirl, Batgirl #28, Batman, Batman #28, Batman: Eternal, Black Magic, Blond, Bluebird, Brahm Revel, Brian Buccellato, Bucky Barnes, Cable, CADMUS, Caitlin Kittredge, Captain Britain, Captain Cold, Carlos M. Mangual, Catwoman, Charles Soule, Chris Chuckry, Coffin Hill, Coffin Hill #5, Cold War, Comics, Comics Picks of the Week, Crime, Crime Syndicate, Crime Syndicate of America, Cristiane Peter, DC Comics, Death's Head, Death's Head II, Derek Fridolfs, Dezi Sienty, Dimensional Travel, Dr. Elias, Dustin Nguyen, Eva de la Cruz, Evil, Fantasy, Fantomex, Fernando Pasarin, Flash, Forever Evil, Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion, Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #5, Francis Manapul, Frank Castle, Gail Simone, Gotham, Green Lantern, Grodd, Hi-Fi, Historical Fiction, Horror, Howard Porter, Hulk, Ian Herring, Inaki Miranda, Iris West, Iron Man, J.M. DeMatteis, James Tynion IV, Javier Pulido, JD Mettler, Jennifer Walters, John Kalisz, Johnny Quick, Jonathan Glapion, Justice League, Justice League 3000, Justice League 3000 #3, Keith Giffen, Kitty Pryde, Lawers, Leonard Snart, Lisa Snart, magic, Marrow, Marvel Comics, Marvel Knights, Marvel Knights: X-Men, Marvel Knights: X-Men #4, Marvel Now, Marvel UK, Mirror Master, Mitch Gerads, Muntsa Vicente, Mutants, Mys-Tech, Nathan Edmondson, New 52, Nick Filardi, Nick Fury, Nick Roche, Nobility, Patty Spivot, Psylocke, Punisher, Punisher #1, Religion, Revolutionary War, Revolutonary War: Death's Head II, Revolutonary War: Death's Head II #1, Rick Remender, Rob Williams, Robot, Rock-He Kim, Rogue, Rogues, Roland Boschi, Royal Flush Gang, Royalty, Sal Cipriano, science fantasy, Science Fiction, Scott Hepburn, Scott Snyder, Selina Kyle, She-Hulk, She-Hulk #1, SHIELD, Simon Coleby, Simon Spurrier, Spoiler, Stephanie Brown, Superheroes, Superman, Supernatural, Superpowered Royalty, Supervillains, The Flash, The Flash Volume 1, The Royals: Masters of War, The Royals: Masters of War #1, Time Travel, Travis Lanham, Trickster, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, VC's Clayton Cowles, VC's Cory Petit, VC's Joe Sabino, Veronica Gandini, Vertigo Comics, Violence, Weather Wizard, Wes Abbott, Winter Soldier, Winter Soldier: Bitter March, Winter Soldier: Bitter March #1, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, World War II, X-Force, X-Force #1, X-Men, Young Adult
Batgirl #28 (Comics Review)
Posted by AJ
Spinning out of the Wanted arc and then the Gothtopia tie-in last month, the new issue of Batgirl goes in a surprisingly different place as Gail Simone explores the thematic links between Gotham’s Bat-family and vampires of urban myths. As I keep saying, Gail Simone has made this title one of DC’s relative heavyweights since the New 52 relaunch, and its definitely one of my highest anticipated titles of each month. The Wanted arc was pretty damn excellent, and now it looks like we might be getting some smaller stories again, like the Ventriloquist 2-issue arc that we had before Wanted.
Barbara has been through a ton of things recently, and she is still picking up the pieces of her life. Its not easy, especially not when a madman comes into town, seemingly intent on some kind of righteous vengeance, a complete and total loon as it were. But she does gain an ally, someone who hasn’t been around in the series for a while and her return is quite fun indeed since I love her as a character and Gail injects a lot of humour in her scenes. To top it all off, Fernando Pasarin and Jonathan Glapion’s art is excellent as ever, another plus.
Posted in Comics Reviews, Review Central
Tags: Action, Alex Garner, Barbara Gordon, Batgirl, Blond, Charise Carnes, Comics, Comics Review, Crime, DC Comics, Dezi Sienty, Fernando Pasarin, Gail Simone, Gotham, Jonathan Glapion, Knightfall, Review, Review Central, Silver, Strix, Superheroes, Talons, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Vigilantism
Best of 2013 Part 2c: Monthly Comics
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 novels and graphic novels already having been covered, I now delve into my favourite monthlies of the year. This is the final “best of” list I’m doing for 2013 that involves reading.
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 Book Lists
Tags: 2013 Comics, Afterlife With Archie, Alex Garner, Alexander Lozano, Aliens, All-New X-Men, All-New X-Men Special, All-New X-Men Special #1, Alternate History, Alvaro Lopez, Andrea Sorrentino, Andy Suriano, Animated Series, Animated Tie-In, Archie, Archie Comics, Arms of the Octopus, Batgirl, Batgirl #26, Best Comics, Betsy Gonia, Black Science, Black Science #1, Blond, Book Lists, Brainiac, Brian Reber, Brian Wood, Bruce Banner, Carlos M. Mangual, Cartoon Network, Cartoons, Cary Nord, Chad Hardin, Chris Eliopoulos, Christos Gage, Comicraft, Comics, Conan, Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Barbarian #6, Contemporary, Crime, Cyborg-Superman, Daniel Sampere, Dark Horse Comics, Dave Sharpe, Dave Stewart, DC Comics, Dean White, Demons, Diogenes Neves, Doug Braithwaite, Eternal Warrior, Fantasy, Francesco Francavilla, Gail Simone, Gotham, Green Arrow, Green Arrow #26, Guy Major, Heroic Fantasy, Hulk, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Indestructible Hulk, Jack Morelli, James Harren, Javier Rodriguez, Jeff Lemire, JG Jones, Jim Zub, Jonathan Glapion, Jordie Bellaire, Jose Villarrubia, Kara Zor-El, Kris Anka, Laura Braga, Laura Martin, Len O'Grady, Marc Deering, Marcelo Maiolo, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Massimo Carnevale, Matt Kindt, Matteo Scalera, Michael Alan Nelson, Mike Costa, Mutants, New 52, Ninjak, Oliver Queen, Otto Octavius, Peter Parker, Richard Starkings, Rick Remender, Riverdale, Rob Leigh, Robert E. Howard, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Ron Marz, Rus Wooton, Samurai Jack, Samurai Jack #1, Sara Pezzini, Science Fiction, Shawn Lee, Space Opera, Spider-Man, SpiderOck, Steve Wands, Supergirl, Supergirl #23, Superheroes, Superior Spider-Man, Superior Spider-Man Annual #1, Supervillains, Swords and Sorcery, Techno-sorcery, Teen Comics, Tie-in fiction, Time Travel, Top Comics, Top Cow Comics, Travel Foreman, Trillium, Trillium #2, Troy Peteri, Unity, Unity #2, Urban Fantasy, VC's Cory Petit, Wayne Fauscher, Witchblade, Witchblade #171, X-Men, X-O Manowar, Young Adult, Zor-El
Batgirl: Redemption (Graphic Novel Review)
Posted by AJ
I’m a huge fan of Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl (and for a long time, the Oracle). She’s been a favourite for a good long while and when I started reading the comics written by Gail Simone last year, I found myself a new outlet to appreciate the character even more. Far more. Those comics are a mainstay of my DC reading right now, and the series is one of my top titles each month (at least, whenever Gail Simone is the writer). A few days ago I decided to read some different Batgirl comics, since during Barbara’s tenure as the Oracle, other characters have taken on that mantle, most notably Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, both of whom are absent in the New 52.
The first of the comics featuring these characters I read was Batgirl: Redemption, which marked the second run of the title and was only for three issues, tangentially leading into the entire Death of Batman arc. Featuring Cassandra Cain, written by Andrew Beechen and drawn by excellent artists like Jim Calafiore and Jonathan Glapion, this wasn’t the best introductory comics to read, but I liked it well enough. There are lots of things going on in here and I was lost a few times, but I still enjoyed the characters thoroughly.
Advent Review #13: Batgirl #26 (Comics Review)
Posted by AJ
We are finally here, the end of the Wanted arc for Batgirl which put Barbara through some of her most trying moments in life. Having killed her monster of a brother, then gone up against the psychopathic Ventriloquist and then on the run from the Gotham Police for her brother’s murder, Barbara has gone through the lowest of low moments, emotionally speaking. The interruption of the Zero Year issue last month by Marguerite Bennett was extremely frustrating since otherwise #25 would have ended this fantastic story arc, something I’d really been looking forward to. But no matter, it came out this week and it left me completely amazed.
I’m really sad that this arc is over. It was a short arc, as such things go, but by god, Gail Simone did some of her best writing in this arc, especially where Barbara herself as a character is concerned, let alone her father Commissioner Gordon. There are a lot of things that made this issue amazing, such as the art by Daniel Sampere, Steve Wands, Blond and Jonathan Glapion, or the mind-blowing cover by Alex Garner. Everything was pretty much pitch-perfect here.
Batgirl #24 by Gail Simone (Comics Review)
Posted by AJ
There are some comics out there that are all action and little plot/characterisation. There are some comics that are the reverse as well, heavy on the plot/characterisation and little action. In that regard, there are few comics that manage to balance the two, and balance them well at that. This is where Gail Simone’s current run on Batgirl comes in because it is one of those few ongoing series that maintains that balance.
When last we were with Barbara Gordon, she had just suffered one of the lowest points of her life and things looked really dire for her as the Wanted arc kicked off to fanfare and horribly moving moments. As with Scott Snyder’s Batman, Gail’s Batgirl is one of the very few DC books that manages to be helluva consistent issue to issue, and Batgirl #24 is the latest in that stellar consistency.
The A-to-Z Comics Survey
Posted by AJ
Last week I posted a book survey, in response to a similar post by a blogger friend. I had a lot of fun writing that post and I immediately wanted to do a comics version of the same. In addition, I’ve talked two other friends, fellow The Founding Fields reviewer Bane of Kings and blogger Stefan at Civilian Reader, into contributing to this survey.
My post goes up today. Bane’s post will go up tomorrow (For those interested, you can check out Bane’s own A-to-Z Book Survey on his blog). And Stefan’s post will follow the day after. Do keep an eye on them!
Hope you enjoy! And even if not, do share your thoughts in the comments! And remember, all my comics reviews can be found here.
Tags: Anthony Del Col, Aquaman, Artifacts, Barry Allen, Batgirl, Batman: Knightfall, Blackest Night, Brian Buccellato, Brian K. Vaughan, Comedy, Comics, Conor McCreery, Courtney Whitmore, Dark Horse Comics, David Hine, DC Comics, Death and Return of Superman, Dynamite Entertainment, Ed Benes, Esad Ribic, Espionage, Fantasy, Fiona Staples, Francis Manapul, G.I.Joe, G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero, Gail Simone, Geoff Johns, Gorilla Grodd, Green Lantern, Greg Capullo, Grodd, H'el on Earth, Horror, Image Comics, Ivan Reis, J. W. Rinzler, Joe Prado, Jonathan Glapion, Jubilee, Justice League, Kill Shakespeare, Kitty Pryde, Larry Hama, Magdalena, Marvel, Marvel Now, Mutants, Nelson Blake III, New 52, Peter Milligan, Red Lanterns, Red Sonja, Ron Marz, Saga, Science Fiction, Scott Snyder, Sean Murphy, Shadowcat, Space Opera, Stargirl, Stjepan Sejic, Superboy, Supergirl, Superheroes, Superman, The Darkness, The Flash, The Movement, The Star Wars, Thor, Thor: God of Thunder, Top Cow, Trinity War, Urban Action, Walter Geovani, X-Men
Batgirl #23 by Gail Simone (Comics Review)
Posted by AJ
So, I just finished reading the new issue of Batgirl by Gail Simone. For the fourth time. I’ve never done that before, ever. There hasn’t been a comic yet that has gotten to me like this one has. Through all the ups and down this title has seen since launch, I’ve stuck with it. Well, technically, I only started reading sometime in August last year, or thereabouts, so I haven’t been reading long, but I’ve stuck with each issue. Gail Simone is one of my favourite writers in the industry right now and a big reason for that is this book.
As someone who was never interested in the character before, much like with Aquaman, Gail got me invested in the character. She got me to vividly experience all the ups and down that Barbara Gordon, formerly Oracle and wheelchair-bound, experienced in the New 52. And with this issue, she’s hit everything home in the worst way possible. And I mean that in a good way.
Note: spoilers for the previous story arcs now follow, so best be aware of that.
Posted in 2012 Reading Challenge, 2013 Reading Challenge, 2013 Writing Challenge, Challenges, Comics Reviews, Review Central
Tags: 2013 Reading Challenge, Alex Garner, Barbara Gordon, Batgirl, Challenges, Comics, Comics Reviews, Fernando Pasarin, Gail Simone, Jonathan Glapion, New 52, Review, Review Central, Superheroes, Vigilantism