Archive for August 25th, 2012

Batman Incorporated #3 Review

Written by TommyZimmer on Aug 25, 2012
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Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Chris Burnham
Number of Pages: 32 pgs.
Price: 2.99
Color: Color
Safety Content Label: A – Appropriate for age 9 and up.

Publisher’s Blurb:
The DC COMIC – THE NEW 52 debut of…MATCHES MALONE?? • BATMAN is hot on the trail of whoever is trying to kill DAMIAN – and he’s not going to like what he finds!

Reviewer’s Comments:
Batman Incorporated’s mysterious third issue arrived into stores this week. After the tragedy in Colorado, this issue was pushed back due to content proposing “revolution.”
However with the tragedy behind us, comic readers can now bask in the return of the Bat-franchise’s best series to date.

Matches Malone goes undercover in this issue. He is seeking to learn more about the mysterious Leviathan. He meets with Goatboy, the assassin who kills Damian, and questions him. However as he begins to do some more sleuthing including meeting a mysterious woman singer named Lumina Lux, he is stopped by Batman. This intrusion causes Mr. Malone to have to retreat back.

Back at the Batcave, Bruce puts together connections between the events that have occurred throughout Morrison’s run and the greater plans Talia has. Batcow makes a return appearance, and has quite an important role to play actually. However, Bruce makes his way back to going out on patrol while the mysterious Redbird takes off to rescue a periled Batman from the clutches of Leviathan.

Grant Morrison continues to make this the best book on the shelves. From his characterizations of minor characters to his ability to move the book into different arena, he proves himself as the grand architect he is.

Chris Burnham really goes to town in this issue. From his scenes in a school to those in a late night club, the art jumps off the page. He is able to draw just about any character, and add lots of detail like former Morrison alum Quitely did. However, Burnham draws a fine line between too much detail and just the right amount (where critics have said Quitely uses too much).

Unfortunately, now I have to wait for another two months before I see the next issue……

Teen Titans #12 Review

Written by TommyZimmer on Aug 25, 2012
Filed in: Comic Book Reviews | No Comments »

Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Pencils: Brett Booth
Number of Pages: 32 pgs.
Price: 2.99
Color: Color
Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP – Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publisher’s Blurb:
• Lookout, RED ROBIN and SUPERBOY! The power of WONDER GIRL’S armor has been unleashed!
• Introducing DIESEL – is he WONDER GIRL’S new boyfriend, or worse?
• And in the backup story, the fate of the prehistoric visitors from MYSTERY ISLAND rest with KID FLASH. Will they become extinct, too?

Reviewer’s Comments:
Wonder Girl has some real issues. She is unable to control her armor she wears, and she has new friends who care about her. Our heroine continues to remain unstable as Scott Lobdell’s Teen Titans rages on.

Tim Drake and Kon-El have major troubles on their hands. They have to somehow get Cassie out of her shell of armor. However, it is unclear to them whether she is actually controlling her actions or not. Regardless of that, Red Robin and Superboy are successful in doing that but something else lurks in the distance. A mysterious figure named Diesel comes out to cause havoc for Ms. Sandsmark once she is free from her armor. There is no time for Red Robin to tell Cassie how he feels about her or for Connor to even compete….. Diesel apparently has them both beat.

Now with all the event nonsense over with, Lobdell is back to focusing on this one book. It is a relief for me as I was not a fan of the recent crossover with the Legion books and Superboy called “The Culling.” I felt it was over encumbered and against what the New 52 was all about. With our writer back in focus, he hammers out another solid issue back to focusing on the story of this team; not any other team.

Meanwhile, Brett Booth returns, and IG Guara is gone from filling in as a terrible guest artist. Booth’s smooth pencils along with his signature detailed features are back. His abilities are on full display here, and elevate the series to its former glory once more.

While this series had some strange shakeups in the past months, it seems this book won’t be doing anymore of the crossover stupidity. Hopefully, DC keeps the book by itself for the foreseeable future.