Solid State Tank Girl #1 Review

Rating: 4/5
Publisher Name: Titan Comics
Writer: Alan Martin
Pencils: Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
Number of Pages: 22
Price: 3.99
Color: Color
Safety Content Label: MAX – EXPLICIT CONTENT – 18 years old.

Publisher’s Blurb:
Tank Girl, Jet Girl, Booga and Barney are back and on a mission to save their favourite little radio store. Things are going according to plan, too, but somewhere along the line Booga manages to electronically summon the gang’s evil counterparts, fronted by the darkest bitch on the planet – ANTI-TANK GIRL! The fight is to the death, as each gang member draws on their deepest, most screwed-up powers to eliminate their own personal nemesis. Things are about to get very dark, very bloody… and very stupid!

Reviewer’s Comments:
Tank Girl returns in this epic start to a new miniseries. Tank Girl, along with her friends Jet Girl, Booga and Barney return to start a new adventure. On a mission to save their favorite radio store, Booga somehow manages to release the gang’s evil counterparts who are lead by Anti-Tank Girl. Needless to say all hell breaks loos as the gang has to draw upon their messed up powers to save the day. The question is will they be able to or is it sayonara for Tank-Girl and her gang? And what will happened to the radio store? You’ll just have to keep reading to find out!

Originally created by Martin and one half of the critically-acclaimed virtual band Gorillaz, Jamie Hewlett, this series has Martin teaming up with newcomer artist Cadwell who does an excellent job illustrating Tank Girl. His art reminds me at times of a psychedelic meets punk art form and it meshes well with Martin’s maddening, and extraordinary scripting. There are times when what’s going on might not make any logical sense, but that’s the point. Tank Girl makes sense in its bizarre and surreal way. This is a comic that readers who are looking for the unique, strange and excellent should pick up.

Batman and Red Robin #19 Review

“Denial”

Publisher Blurb:

On the darkest of nights, who is the one person Batman meets that could change his life forever?

Reviewers Comments:

I hope I’m not being too blasphemous in my statement, but Grant Morrison giveth and he taketh away.

Unless you’re one of those few fanboys (or girls) that’s avoided spoilers from Batman, Inc. #8 than you’re one of the few fans out there that has no idea that Damien Wayne has gone the way of the dodo, 30 Rock and the New York Knicks 13-game winning streak. Now, I’ve personally gone on the record and stated my complete and utter admiration for the character of Damien Wayne, and I’ve also enjoyed how the creative team of Tomasi and Gleason have handled the young Wayne and his exploits. Now, with the untimely demise of the fourth Robin (third if you accept that Tim Drake was technically never Robin) I, like other fans of this title, openly wonders the direction of Batman & Robin in the long term.

However in the now, issue #19 of Batman & Red Robin continues to follow a sidekickless Batman. Keeping in lockstep with the silent “Requiem” issue, Bruce Wayne/Batman attempts to deal with a great deal of emotional turmoil, as well as make sense of the death of his only biological son. For a person living under normal circumstances it’s difficult to handle the death of a loved one, so for someone like Batman—a hard case vigilante—this is an experience that can’t be punched, kicked, or elbowed away.

Complicating matters for Bruce Wayne (as the cover suggest), he’s introduced to a young woman in Carrie Kelley (in what can be perceived as in poor taste), with ties to Damien that he as a father (and detective) knew nothing about. As for the Batman, the Dark Knight’s grief manifest itself in actions befitting of a super villain. The desperation of the World’s Greatest Detective reveals a willingness for extreme measures that a character like, Superman, would ever breech in order to resurrect a loved one. It’s also Batman’s borderline criminal behavior which allows for this issues co-star, Red Robin, to seamlessly work his way into the tale. All of this is made possible through the combined might of Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, who’s work over the last several issues remains me of ChrisCross (artist on Blood Syndicate and Captain Marvel).

I’m a huge, huge, Damien Wayne fan, before Damien briefly became Red Bird, before the Robin costume had a hood, around the time the young Wayne beheaded one of Batman’s villains, and much like the Dark Knight, I’m at a complete lost for words. As a fan I’m intrigued by what’s possibly to come. With the debut of Carrie (the Robin from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns) as well as Harper Row’s recent appearance in Batman #18, there stands a reasonable chance that the next Robin, in all likelihood, will be of the XY chromosome. Unless Batman is successful in bringing Damien from the dead.

Batgirl #19 Review

Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Publisher Website: www.dccomics.com

Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Daniel Sampere
Inks: Vicente Cifuentes
Number of Pages: 32
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:
Will a battle of sibling rivalry lead to a death in the family?

Reviewer’s Comments:
The final showdown between brother and sister finally arrives in this new issue and secrets are revealed and a father and daughter’s trust is betrayed in this new issue.

Before Barbara goes to fight her brother for the final time, she and her roommate Alysia sit down and have a conversation about the past few months and each woman reveals a secret to the other.

Barbara tells Alysia about the Joker shooting her, the wheelchair, and her recovery to walk again. Then Alysia reveals her secret which has made big waves through out comic book fandom this week.

With her roommate warned about James, Barbara moves on to save her family…from her own brother. Little does she know that James has a surprise of his own in store for Barbara. Without giving it away, the final showdown between siblings happens on a rainy night on a Gotham bridge. One sibling won and the other lost…or did they?

I’m excited to see Gail Simone back writing Gotham’s heoric redhead who wears a cape and cowl. I loved the scripting of this issue, the plot is excellent and the conclusion to this story arc ends with a bang.

The artwork continues to be subperb with the stunning action scenes and the character interactions.

Batgirl has been a favorite of mine since the new 52 began and this issue is why series continues to be. I’m looking forward to what’s in store for Batgirl in the future.

Green Lantern #19 Review

Rating: 4/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Ardian Syaf/Szymon Kudranski
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:
Which one hero has the power to bring down all the Lantern Corps?

Reviewer’s Comments:
Things are not looking good for Hal, Sinestro or Simon for that matter with a gun pointed at his head. Sinestro quickly leaves Simon behind as he attends to more important matters: Korugar.

When he arrives, not everyone is happy to see him; everyone meaning Arsona. He tells her his plan to stop the First Lantern which involves militarizing his home planet. The Lantern stops him first however before he or Arsona can do anything. Making him relive many of his past memories, Sinestro sees it all flash before him making him remember his love for her. However, that’s short lived after she is immediately murdered right in front of his eyes, and in a two page spread, Korugar is blown to pieces. When Hal realizes Korugar has been destroyed and there are millions more dead arriving, he finally makes the tough decision committing suicide. In the meantime, Sinestro has given up willpower for what seems to be the fear he currently feels.

Geoff Johns does a bit of a cheat since last issue. The last splash page left the reader thinking Hal killed himself at the end but it’s not until the end of this episode it actually happens. The story mostly focuses on Sinestro’s return and his first fight with the First Lantern. It is actually pretty emotionally charged, and Johns nicely connects Hal’s suicide with Sinestro’s rebirth of fear. What culminates is a sad yet moving story.

Ardian Syaf and Szymon Kudranski continue their fill in duties with the former on the real world art and the latter on the Dead Zone art. Both are quite effective working on the book, and were welcome surprises since the last issue brought them on. Syaf easily handles the space stuff, and Kudranski does the Dead Zone quite beautifully as it works well with his style.

Next issue is Johns’ last issue, and I am a bit surprised how fast that flew by. No matter what, all will be well.

_____________

Tommy Zimmer is an upcoming writer of short stories, comic books, journalism/media reviews, screenplays, and anything related to writing. On zimmert101.wordpress.com, you can view his latest work, and see what exciting things he is currently doing!!

The Phantom Stranger #7 Review

Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Dan DiDio/JM DeMatteis
Pencils: Gene Ha
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:
Do you dare ask who slayed the Stranger?

Reviewer’s Comments:
As The Phantom Stranger sits before the man he betrayed in a church, a priest approaches him. The priest knows when something is troubling someone. The problem for the Stranger is he cannot reveal about his problem truly to the priest as much as he may want to, and he promptly exits.

As the story’s prologue closes, the Stranger and his dog friend discuss mysticism and how it could possibly be the solution to the Strangers’ problems. Unfortunately, he says he does not want to hear of it but just wants to find his family. The Stranger is taken off course to meet reporter Jack Ryder, and see him die amidst a catastrophe involving the Challengers of the Unknown. However, Jack being the brave reporter he is goes out there to do what he does best. As the Stranger sees what happens to yet another person who crosses paths with him, he decides to ignore his dog friend, and go back to the heart of the matter: what happened to his family. As he arrives back at Mister Thirteen’s house, a question and a death await him…

Dan DiDio and JM DeMatteis continue to score in this series. The Stranger is not only an interesting character but becomes more interesting and deeper with each issue. The struggles are apparent within the crux of the character, and his story continues to make more and more left turns keeping things fresh.

Gene Ha seems to be the new series artist for now, and it’s a welcome stay. He gives the series a fresh new style that really works for it. He nails the supernatural aspects but also the real and larger than life events as well. I also like the little things he does with the Stanger’s eyes and reactions.

Hopefully, Ha stays on for a little, and I know unfortunately DiDio will leave soon but we will have DeMatteis which guarantees a good story. All in all, one of the better reads each first week of the month.
_____________

Tommy Zimmer is an upcoming writer of short stories, comic books, journalism/media reviews, screenplays, and anything related to writing. On zimmert101.wordpress.com, you can view his latest work, and see what exciting things he is currently doing!!

Batwing #19 Review

Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Publisher Website: www.dccomics.com

Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Pencils: Eduardo Pansica
Inks: Julio Ferreira
Colors: Jason Wright
Number of Pages: 25
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:
Batwing quits—and what new member of the Batman family is ready to take his place?

Reviewer’s Comments:
Out with the old and in with the new as David’s story as the Batman of Africa comes to a close while a new Batwing’s story is just beginning. And David’s send off is a powerful, emotional, poignant,and an amazing one.

The story opens with David and the original dark knight at a grave in a cementary and Batman asks David if he’s sure of his decision David tells him that he didn’t come to this decision lightly as tears flow down his cheeks.

Flashback to a few days before and David in his Batwing suit-a gift that Matu left for him-and he’s out for blood. His first target is his former childhood friend Rachel who goes by the name Dawn. Batwing demands that she reveals where she’s stashed the spoiled rich kid Ancil, killer of many women. It’s a rough interrogation by Batwing but he gets his answers. He also gives Rachel a warning: leave Africa and never return.

Batwing locates Ancil and just in time as he’s about to kill another. In an electrifying fashion, David captures Ancil and moves on to his next target Ancil’s father Marksbury. Quietly and violently Batwing makes his way through Marksbury’s hounds until he’s face to face with the man. After a thorough beating, Batwing declares Marksbury’s business affairs over and he goes out with a bang, blowing up Marksbury’s ship along with Sky Pirate’s vessel.

David returns to the hospital and is at Matu’s beside as he passes. Before dying Matu tells David to take back his life. And David begins to do so by helping Kia capture Ancil and then quitting the police force. Flash forward to where the story started and we learned that his ‘decision’ was to quit being Batwing. We’re then briefly introduced to the new Batwing’s suit designed by Lucas Fox and the new Batwing himself Luke Fox.

This issue was what I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been reading Batwing since issue one and I knew that this book had potential but over time it was slowly losing it. But the last few issues written by Fabian Nicieza regained my confidence. And then this issue just sealed the deal for me.

I’m a fan of the writing duo of Palmiotti and Gray with their run of All-Star Western being a favorite of mine. The scripting was brilliant it captured everything just right. The artwork is fantastic. This is the right team for this book. I also have a feeling that though David isn’t the dark knight of Africa anymore, we haven’t seen the last of him.

Overall this was a fantastic issue. I’m excited for the future holds for the new Batwing.

Batman Incorporated #9 Review

Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Chris Burnham/Jason Masters
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:
The fallout from last month’s shocking turn of events has Batman on the run!

• Is The Dark Knight a murderer?

Reviewer’s Comments:
Like Jason Todd was at a turning point a few issues back in Red Hood, Bruce is at a crossroads. As he carries the tomb of his fourth son, he battles his son’s killer in a time before. Finally, Dick is knocked out ending the battle.

After the funeral, Alfred tries to console Bruce but he will have nothing of it sending Alfred on “a vacation.” Bruce is declaring vengeful war on Talia, Chris Burnham and Jason Master’s pages make that clear. Talia takes issue with the way Damian was dealt with, and the mayor of Gotham then declares Batman INC to be banned from the streets, Bruce to make himself available to authorities and Batman himself outlawed from Gotham. While Bat Cow gives Bruce temporary peace, he has a moment of angry silence as the issue comes to a close.

Grant Morrison plays with the ramifications of what has come to past. He plays the whole issue as a requiem really for what has just transpired. It is both shocking and saddening to read at the same time. He continues the mystery of it all by not revealing anything that will come next.

Chris Burnham and Jason Masters do some find work here. When Bruce stands in the rain and his eyes are closed in the clouds is some of the best work I have seen from the art team on the book. They play every scene out to its full potential, and leave you wanting more when the issue ends.

At the end of this issue, I am left baffled and anxious about what will happen next.

_____________

Tommy Zimmer is an upcoming writer of short stories, comic books, journalism/media reviews, screenplays, and anything related to writing. On zimmert101.wordpress.com, you can view his latest work, and see what exciting things he is currently doing!!

Teen Titans #18 Review

Rating: 4/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Pencils: Eddy Barrows
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:

• Unknown to the Teen Titans, Red Robin’s condition is worsening after the events of “DEATH OF THE FAMILY.” And now Red Robin must face an even greater tragedy!

• The new Dr. Light is coming for Solstice!

• Guest-starring the Suicide Squad!

Reviewer’s Comments:
Tim Drake and Damian Wayne never saw eye to eye on anything really. It is perhaps one of the saddest points of the Bat family that they never really accepted one another. Worst yet, the two men never got to say good bye to each other or have a “last moment” like Dick and Damian had. Damian’s ghost visits Tim, and they have a moment where they finally accept one another as the book opens.

Tim’s eyes are pouring out in grief as Alfred comes into remind him he is not alone in this. Tim never being one to be alone (except when he thought Bruce was still alive while others didn’t) gladly accepts the love and kindness from Alfred. Superboy arrives to not much of a welcome reception. The team wants to keep their anonymity, and Superboy’s arrival kind of defeats the purpose of their boat. However, he is welcomed with open arms by Red Robin. They all meet in his bunker on the boat to discuss their plans to rescue a teenage superhuman from Belle Reve prison. While they battle Waller’s Suicide Squad, writer Scott Lobdell does another 360 with Tim Drake making it clear the Red Robin speaking to her is not the same from the beginning of the book. This continues to raise more questions for me as to when he is Tim Drake and the Trigon possessed Red Robin. Unless Trigon is living through the emotional moments of losing Damian which I find unrealistic but I tend to think the Red Robin suit is possessed. However, I am not certain. All I know is we will some answers next issue hopefully especially with the last page.

Scott Lobdell is finally focusing on the story he wants to tell without having to worry about stupid editorial mandated crossovers. The result is a much better focused story, and something he has left me hanging on a bit with questions. I am so glad to see him back on the straight laced path but hopefully, he will let me in on the secret of Trigon/Tim Drake.

Eddy Barrows is the king of this book. His art elevates every page of this book with each panel, the splashes and spreads. He is one of the best working in the business, and makes this book necessary on every reader’s pull list for the art alone.

These two are shooting on all cylinders, and the result is something impossible to ignore.
_____________

Tommy Zimmer is an upcoming writer of short stories, comic books, journalism/media reviews, screenplays, and anything related to writing. On zimmert101.wordpress.com, you can view his latest work, and see what exciting things he is currently doing!!

Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 Review

Rating: 5/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Pencils: Tyler Kirkham
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:
Jason Todd suffered terribly at the hands of The Joker in “DEATH OF THE FAMILY,” and now he’s changing the Outlaws’ mission!

• Something is bound to break with all that’s happened…will it be Jason’s soul

Reviewer’s Comments:
Red Hood and the Outlaws #18 marks a historic turn for Jason Todd. He has been through a lot but nothing prepared him (or me really) for what would transpire in this issue.

Jason is in a sort of coma since what happened when he put his helmet back on. The Joker placed acid in it, and if Bruce had not saved him, he might have never survived. Writer Scott Lobdell plays with everything he has written for the character from the beginning of the series up until now. Ducra returns making herself known to Jason in his head. As he battles to maintain control, Ducra makes some comparisons of Jason to the Joker, and this upsets him greatly. He is already reminiscing about what he was in his mind, and he doesn’t need a spirit telling him of what he is or was. He is confronted with his demons here, what he never wanted to be and the hatred people have for him. He is mentally able to overcome it when Bruce saves him in his mind, and then the story transitions to the end of his time as Wingman. Jason is broken up about failing Bruce again (probably for not being able to save Damien), and things change in a great way from here. Lobdell goes for the reader’s heart, and upon first read, one will definitely cry if not upon multiple reads. This is one of the penultimate moments in Jason Todd’s life, and for any Todd fans, this is required reading from now on.

From a crime epic to a space epic to a biography of a man’s life, Lobdell has been able to move the plots forward with character driven stories into places as different as Gotham City and Tamaran. He should not only be commended for his brave writing but also his strong choices in character turns for the Outlaws Trio. It is bitter sweet that Lobdell ends here but hopefully James Tynion IV lives up to the example Lobdell has set on the series.

Tyler Kirkham fills in for this issue, and does a spectacular job. He easily transitions from the mental scenes Jason finds himself in to the scenes where he is in bed with Bruce and Alfred waiting in the wings for his recovery. This is definitely some of his best work, and it makes me wonder why he did not take over the book earlier.

With that, I cannot say anything else but that readers will be quite surprised at what happens from beginning to end…. Mico Suayan’s gorgeous cover is definitely a mislead.
_____________

Tommy Zimmer is an upcoming writer of short stories, comic books, journalism/media reviews, screenplays, and anything related to writing. On zimmert101.wordpress.com, you can view his latest work, and see what exciting things he is currently doing!!