[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico

Colors:   Ivan Plascencia

Letters: Pat Brosseau

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

“Well young man…I think you are ready for the masks.” – Avery Oblonsky to Bruce Wayne

Positives

Chip Zdarksky continues where writers like Tom Taylor left off, providing us with a glimpse of Bruce’s past, as Bruce did not become Batman overnight.  Issue #6 has the future Batman competing with his rival Anton in order to gain more training on the art of marksmanship from one Luca Jungo, The Swiss Mark!

Luca is a very reluctant mentor and recognizes immediately that this is possibly not the path for Bruce.

Zdarksy shows both the allure of guns and arrows to Anton, but also the temptation and torture for Bruce.  The man who will become the Dark Knight recognizes that he’s really really good at hunting and sniping.  Is it too easy for him?  Perhaps, but his code and PTSD are full on.  To place Bruce in a comic holding a gun is a genius move by Zdarsky.

The development of Anton as being lured by “The Dark Side”, is very Star Wars, or very Shakesperean.  There’s always duality at work in a Batman comic, and Zdarksky follows that formula.  However, his rendition is making it fresh!

Carmine Di Giandomenico puts us in a very very cold environment.  His graphic depictions of a slain deer, or an arrow hitting its mark, are great!  I love his renderings as he makes the characters pop out of the scenery!

Negatives  

Chip Zdarksky’s developing Bruce into what he is today.  However, we get to see the layers assembled through his pen, rather than get the final dark product that is in most Batman books.  There are no negatives here, as it s a back-to-the-drawing board experience that this book’s aiming for.

Verdict

Again, I like seeing a less confident Bruce, seeing the mistakes, the apprehension, and the “unsureness” as this book accentuates his journey.  Somehow, we now see him through a crotchety lens, where he’s incapable of indicating he’s wrong or even making the slightest mistake.  It’s refreshing to see how Bruce gets to become The World’s Greatest Detective!

The post Review: Batman The Knight #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tom Taylor

Artist: Bruno Redondo

Colors: Adriano Lucas

Letters: Wes Abbott

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

“You’re incredible.  I love you!” – Dick to Barbara

Nightwing #93

Battle for Blüdhaven’s heart! After uncovering that Blockbuster isn’t who he says he is. In fact, he’s much worse. Nightwing, Babs, and Blüdhaven mayor Melinda Zucco battle to expose Blockbuster’s malpractices.

With the villain controlling more of the criminal underground than Nightwing ever thought possible, can Dick Grayson help stop him before things go too far?

Positives

Under Tom Taylor’s pen, Dick Grayson continues to be the “Boy Scout” of the DC Universe right now.  He’s Jon Kent’s mentor, The Flash’s best pal, dog owner extraordinaire (Don’t you dare do anything to Haley, Tom Taylor!), and finally the man who lets his emotions finally come out in the old Cheers Sam and Diane saga.

FINALLY, we get to hear Dick let it slip what we all are thinking/knowing as he professes his love for Babs as she does one of her extraordinary moves as Oracle.

This is a positive, but also a bit of a negative.  Since this comes in issue #93,  it really sets up a courtship moment that arguably would drag out until issue #100 for a big splash.  I am speculating here, but I think that Dick and Babs may be headed for wedded bliss faster than Clark or Lois ever did.

Taylor continues with a strong public commentary about corrupt police in Bludhaven.  Whether we admit it or not, Bludhave is a mini-Gotham in some ways.  I am really loving that Dick’s sister is Mayor.  Their relationship needs to be explored more and more!

Bruno Redondo draws this book with the simplicity that it needs and the expressions that we crave.  He continues to impress as his landscapes, cityscapes, and character development are spot on.  Could he make Haley/Bitewing any cuter?  Frame by frame that dog continues to grab our hearts!

Kudos to Adriano Lucas on the colors.  Those pages are all poster-worthy and this week’s cover…WOW!  I want that framed and signed!  What a great shot!

Negatives  

Tom… please add some Picante sauce and pick up the pace of the Dick/Babs storyline.  Once we get this dynamic duo hitched, and have cleaned up Bludhaven, we can get into some real detective work here.  Or not…I’m not sure whether I want this book to be any heavier.  With all that is going on in the DC landscape, Taylor gives us the positive breath we need in a book.

But let’s get a ring on these two lovebirds and fast!

Verdict

Taylor and Redondo get better and better with each issue.   Do we need more Haley?  Sure (ahem… more cowbell please!)  Redondo draws hairstyles like we all wish we could style our hair, but it’s more than that.t This is a great book to settle in and be inspired by Dick Grayson and all of his positivity!

The post Review: Nightwing #93 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer: Christian Ward

Artists: Patric Reynolds

Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Colors:   Heather Moore

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

“See…all good.  They move out of the way when they have to!” – Atticus Stone reflecting about a pedestrian he almost killed.

Blood Stained Teeth #3– CHRISTIAN WARD, the Eisner Award-winning co-creator of ODY-C, Invisible Kingdom, and Machine Gun Wizards, returns to Image with red-hot artist PATRIC REYNOLDS (The Mask) for an all-new ONGOING SERIES—a fast-paced 100 Bullets-style crime saga with fangs!

Meet Danny Park, a vampire whose particular fetish involves purposely crashing his automobile and then feasting on the Samaritans that come to his aid. He’s on a collision course with Atticus Sloane, and it’s a lovely night for a drive.

Positives

To recap as we are only in issue #3, Christian Ward has set off a time bomb with Atticus Sloane.

For decades, Atticus Sloane has been turning humans into Vampires.  Referred to by the First Council as ‘Sips’.  Now, he has a month to find all those that he turned or face deadly consequences. Kill all that he has turned or the First Born Council will kill him.”

Ward is dripping out the hit list and he knocked me for a loop last issue with the boxer (pun intended), but he really set me up in this issue with Atticus’s driver.  No spoilers here, but Ward is turning the vampire genre on its ear.  I had to go back and re-read Issues #1 and #2 after this one.  Hey…no problem as Ward has a hit on his hand, and we have the front seat on what I hope will be a Netflix series one day!

Ward gives us the next Sip on Atticus’ list and this speed freak has a deep motivation.  No spoilers on the story as we get a succinct history and Atticus behind the wheel in what we can call a great episode of The Fanged and the Furious (pun intended).

Christian Ward plants a seed at the end of this story that is going to place Atticus at a crossroads.  I already love what he is doing on this hitlist of a comic, but two roads are about to intersect…sigh Mr. Ward you have us hooked!

Positives 2.0

Patric Reynolds, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and Heather Moore – I finally recall how you are doing this.  As a fan of the Sunday Comic pages as a kid, this was the only way a kid could get additional comics after you spent your allowance at the corner drug store on the comic rack. 

Reynolds, Otsmane-Elhaou and Moore are using a “Dick Tracy” type of splash on these pages and it so works!  It took a little help from the Letter section in the back of the comic, but a flood of great memories came back on this one…much like discovering another Easter Egg or solving Wordle on the first try!  Well done art team!

Negatives

None – in face Atticus has a bit of a surprise in his cocky British ways…I cannot help but read him with a British accent therefore he must have one.   Does he succeed in this kill?  You’ll have to read the issue…but his water is muddied quite a bit in this one as we will soon see!

Verdict

Buy this book!  Go back and get issues #1 and #2.  Never let the ground floor of a comic deter you from picking up an issue #1.  Those of us that grabbed this one have the comic of the year that redefines the vampire genre.

The post Image Comics Review: Blood Stained Teeth #3 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher:  Image Comics

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artist: Tony S. Daniel

Colors: Marcelo Maiolo

Letters: AndWorld Design

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

With nothing less than the fate of the world in the balance, Val and the Sundog Convoy face a terrible sacrifice. The quest for Eos reaches its shade-infested conclusion!

Positives

Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel…page 19 and page 26.  As Ben Grimm says “‘Nuff Said!”.  Wow.  This is the book that is what Scott Snyder is all about.  Where he falls short in Undiscovered Country, he makes Nocterra the new Walking Dead.  This is a diamond for your comic collecting shelf!  His recent cliffhanger in this issue will be legendary as this book marches into the double digits for longevity.

Blacktop Bill and William.. Nothing left to get in between these boys (spoiler alert), but if you think any of these characters are on the same page, you have not been reading what we have.  Bill is as evil as they come and he is singing from the same hymn book as the creatures that have shaped the Great PM.

Whether this is of biblical proportions for Bill, one cannot say, but his belief system is totally devout on what is about to come!

Tony S Daniel draws silhouettes and teeth like no other.  I thought Todd McFarlane had a cornerstone on this from his Spawn days, but Daniel has done for teeth what McFarlane did for webbing!  Look at the frames below and the aforementioned pages.  Whew!

Positives 2.0

Nocterra… my head is on a swivel as Snyder just threw a monkey wrench into the entire works.  No spoilers, but if you are a Nocterra fan, this issue is going to be epic and needs to be on your pull list immediately.  The art is fantastic, but the Epilogue is cinematic!!!!

Negatives

None! Finally, we get the showdown we wanted between William and Bill.  We get Val and her Sundog Convoy making quite the impact.  Where do we go from here…only the mind of Scott Snyder and the pencils of Tony S Daniel know, and we are on the edge of our seat after this issue.

Verdict

BUY THIS BOOK! We are already beginning the second story arc! In fact, go out and get the “Full Throttle Dark” storyline in Trade Paperback form. If you’re not hooked yet, here’s a link to the first issue. I keep touting both Daniel and Snyder as a dream team because they simply are. This is so reminiscent of The Stand, and Walking Dead, but then again… It’s Nocterra and it’s awesome!

The post Image Comics Review: Nocterra #11 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer: Todd McFarlane

Artists:  Brett Booth

Letters: Tom Orzechowski

Colors:   Ivan Nunes

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

“I could have killed you just now?  Why…?  Because I showed you my breast?  That’s all it takes!  You men are so pathetic at times!– She-Spawn to Gunslinger Spawn 

Gunslinger Spawn #9- Gunslinger is on the hunt for someone from his past. A person dear to his heart—but also a person who wants him DEAD!

The beginning of The Scorched is explored further as Gunslinger Spawn and She-Spawn finally meet with Spawn.

Positives

Brett Booth continues to make hearts flutter over every character he draws.  His renderings of She-Spawn and Gunslinger Spawn are perfect.  He definitely knows how to tap into the smoldering chemistry of two hot superheroes/anti-heroes/protoplasmic perfect creatures.

I have often commentated in the past how one cannot see where McFarlane’s pencils and Booth’s art begins and ends.  Both are perfect in this medium and this book has raised both of their games higher.  As an issued challenge, I would love for both to alternate, take turns, or Easter Egg the heck out of an issue to see if one can identify each of their art.   

Positives 2.0

McFarlane is pouring his all into this book.  He has handed the reins of his books to other authors, but it is clear that the Toddfather is having so much fun in this new playground, this has become his favorite toy.  Move over Woody…this is McFarlane’s Buzz Lightyear.

He is dripping out Javi’s history, but we clearly see that McFarlane is a very bloody and graphic romance novelist.  Spawn’s story began with Al making a deal with the Devil to see Wanda again.  We see Javi’s story intersecting in the same direction.  Again, McFarlane is no Harlequin romance novelist, but he has his finger on the pulse of what his fans want…blood, violence, and smoldering looks!

Negatives

That power meter is at 1:1:3:5.  javi’s meter is so slow in filling up.  He is our everyone person Spawn as he is not as all powerful.  This book is like the old Spawn video game in that you had to watch that meter closely.  Javi is so much more measured in how he uses his powers…not a negative at all, but just an observation.

Verdict

Read the First Issue of Gunslinger Spawn Online. Issue #9 sharpens the storyline between The Scorched and Gunslinger Spawn.  It also provides us some context as to Javi’s past and his motivation – LOVE.  McFarlane is trickling out this story and why not…this has to be one of the best selling books out there right now.  Booth’s pencils are on fire…can he draw more comics please?  I cannot imagine someone not having this diamond on their shelf!

The post Image Comics Review: Gunslinger Spawn #9 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher:  Image Comics

Writers: Scott Snyder and Charles Soule

Artists: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Leonardo Marcello Grassi

Letters: Crank!

Colors:  Matt Wilson

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

New York Times bestselling writers Scott Snyder and Charles Soule give us a one shot issue to delve deeper into the Destiny Man’s origin!

Undiscovered Country Destiny Man Special  -The greatest villain of the UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY is the mysterious DESTINY MAN, the dark god of the plains, the conqueror who believes he is destined to rule the New America.

Now, in this special issue, dive into the insanity of his past and learn why his ultimate destiny…is to rule it ALL!

Positives

Scott Snyder and Charles Soule revisit the Destiny Man…the villain we were first introduced to in the first few issues of Undiscovered Country.  I’ll be the first to indicate that the first few issues were that of a mini-series fit for a Netflix show.  However, the more we have traveled through the Undiscovered Country of the United States, the more things need to come back to this origin.

Perhaps that is what Snyder and Soule are thinking with this issue as there has been (in my opinion) too many incarnations of Uncle Sam, and a slow progression through the lands.  The assembling of the team and the initial run of Destiny Man was powerful.  This issue contributes to his origin and makes the reader appreciate the lens that Snyder and Soule are providing us about a pretty instrumental character in this series run.

Positives #2

The art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Marcello Grassi continues to drive this series.  In fact, the covers, the aura, the futuristic views and homages to the past are so evident.  Sometimes we look for those Easter Eggs of art such as a first gen Ipod or an market where pop culture items abound.

These two blend all that very well into this story.

Negatives 

This story started strong…very cinematic.  In fact, the back of the book provides some context as to the journey of the idea.  However, it is losing me as a constant reader.  I want a discovered cure for the Sky Virus.  I want to know why time is suspended within the country.  As a devout reader of anything by Scott Snyder, I am simply in a state of “Lost”…that beloved television series which started and then literally lost its viewers.

I feel like every issue is getting away from some of the core topics we started with.  Sometimes I am in the weeds as a reader and I want to see more of the big picture.  I still love these two as authors, but there is something off in the recipe.

Verdict

I’m still a fan of what this can become.  This issue goes back to an origin story that is much needed in terms of defining and redefining the character of Destiny Man.  However, blending this in with the remainder of the series and getting back to curing the Sky Virus is how you got me into reading this book.  Can we move that along as I appreciate the history lessons, but I bet the people outside of the Undiscovered Country need their heroes to move this along a bit!

The post Image Comics Review: Undiscovered Country Destiny Man Special appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Image Comics

Writers: Sean Lewis, Todd McFarlane

Artist:  Javi Fernandez

Letters:  AndWorld Design

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

King Spawn #11 – Spawn finally comes to understand who has been working against him, and now he’s on the hunt for the Court of Priests!  Terry makes a move that is so irreversible that Al may never forgive him.  Positives

You know those magic tricks where one is so focused on all the work the magician is doing that is so elaborate that we never see the trick until we are totally in awe?  We are so focused on what we think we know, but then we never see it.  It is akin to a boxer setting us up for a knockout punch.

Sean Lewis does that with his script in this issue of King Spawn.  He, with Todd McFarlane providing “backup vocals” in the story have us so focused on the God Throne which Spawn is supposed to sit upon. 

Spawn goes on a violent rampage sending a message to all the agents that are trapped on Earth.  His stubbornness will not allow these forces to leave this dimension of Earth and I imagine Lewis is playing the “long ball game” as Spawn appears to be wanting to pick off these agents one by one.

However, no spoilers here, but the quote above throws cold water in your face as you turn the page.  You did it again Mr. Lewis…. you did it again.  Positives 2.0

King Spawn is very violent in this issue.  If you are craving the intricate work of pencils by Javi Fernandez, you are in for a treat. 

Given the state of things in the world, comic violence should be simply placed on comic pages and not in real life.  We as readers get that this is fiction, but from a deeper standpoint, McFarlane and Lewis “get” that there is a war between Heaven and Hell. 

It is ghastly and bloody on a lot of different levels. Whether you are a Christian, an Athiest, or somewhere in between, Lewis and McFarlane acknowledge the power of the struggle between pure evil and pure good. 

This is after all a love story between Al Simmons and the fact he would do anything to be with his wife Wanda after he was murdered.  I love the fact that Sean Lewis has returned the character back to his roots.  However, the latest cliffhanger may have ripped the rug out from under Al once again.

Accolades for World Record-Setting

Check out Issue #1 of King Spawn to get you hooked. Can you believe that King Spawn already has ten issues bottled up for us in the King Spawn Volume One Trade Paperback? 

The traction that this book, along with its partner issues in Gunslinger Spawn, Scorched, and the one that started it all…Spawn… gives a Spawn fan instant gratification each week.

Verdict

Issue #11 returns King Spawn back to full colors in a battle in front of the God Throne. The writing and the art pull absolutely no punches and again places Spawn back to his origin. Again, a huge cliffhanger awaits, and sets up Issue #12 and beyond. Or maybe not…Sean Lewis may have faked me out again with his magic pen. Buy this series!

The post Image Comics Review: King Spawn #11 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Titan Comics

Writers:  K Perkins, Mellow Brown

Artist: Fernando Dagnino

Colors:  Marco Lesko

Letters:   Jim Campbell

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

Positives

K Perkins, and Mellow Brown… this issue is monumental in that it names Detective Cal Moreaux as the first Blade Runner.  The fact that things are so complicated by his relationship with his sister who is basically running an underground railroad for Replicants.

Perkins, Brown, and Johnson are giving this story such strong bones that audiences may even cry out to see this on the big screen.  Everyone loves a prequel and this book has been building to.

How did the Replicants go underground?  It’s here… how did the original Blade Runner institute the Voight-Kampf machine (that little piece of machinery that measures eye dilation and makes a Replicant very unnverved)…it’s in here.  When you finish reading this final issue of Blade Runner Origins, you have the final brick that sets the foundation for the Blade Runner movie.

As Blade Runner fans, we have a lot of our “aha” moments…it’s like watching Anakin Skywalker as a young child and you know what is coming, but you still relish every moment.

Perkins and Brown set off a “nostalgia bomb” that makes you immediately research how you can watch Harrison Ford’s Blade Runner again and again!

Positives 2.0

Fernando Dagnino, what he does with the rain, the roof tops and replicants is amazing.  We see an entire new species that are about to be hunted for simply existing.  Are we uneasy?  Yes, because Dagnino brings them to life.  You cannot ask for an artist to do more than that!  Mission accomplished!

Negatives

Crickets are chirping as you need to check this out!  This comic is what we have been craving as a prequel in expanding our knowledge of the Blade Runner universe. We get to really see the seeds of what the Tyrell Corp puts into play.  Replicants….are they more human than we are?  We are about to see!

Verdict

If we are lucky, we can get this into one anthology.  If you are lucky, you have been buying issues #1 – #12 all along.   You may want to reach out to local comic shop if you have not been placing this in your pull bag.  This series arguably could be the Hollywood film we crave as a Blade Runner prequel… it’s eye candy of that standard!

The post Indie Comics Review: Blade Runner Origins #12 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tom King

Artist: David Marquez

Colors:   Alejandro Sanchez

Letters: Clayton Cowles

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

“Earlier that morning, Batman is fighting tigers.” –Narrator

“I’m fighting tigers.” – Batman to Alfred over his communicator

Positives

Tom King. This man has done more for Bruce Wayne lately to make Batman so relevant in the DC landscape.  Not only does King write one of the strongest stories for Batman, but the rhythm., the pace, the narration. Then we get the jumps from page to page;”Earlier that day”, “two hours ago,” “2000 years ago”.

King puts your held on a swivel.  Love his humor (see quote above), but more importantly, he has introduced The Help which is the coolest and most confident villain I have ever seen.  Picture a sane Joker… a slender Bane…an evil Alfred.  Nothing really can describe The Help as we have never seen anything like him.  This book provides the origin and it is a powerful one!

In this day and age…remember when Bane was first introduced and how we were all like…he broke The Bat!  Well, mark down this series with The Help.

Clayton Cowles’ lettering aids in King’s story so much.  I absolutely love the narration and he definitely is an artist in this arena!

David Marquez pencils are reminiscent of prior artists.  Batman’s features are larger in some instances and slender in others.  But overall, his attention to detail and his renderings of classic villains as well as The Help is what makes this comic jump off the page!

Negatives  

I never knew Selina to be so brutal, but King writes Selina on the same level as Penguin and Joker.  While she is arguably softer in her books, this particular outing has a Selina that is pure brutal.  Not a negative per se, but be on the lookout for a Selina that is unlike what you are used to!

Verdict

Tom King’s leaving his stamp on the Batman universe.  This intense pace of narration back and forth with time stamps, battles, and name-dropping galore is repainting the Batman landscape.  You may need to take a hit from an oxygen tank as your heart flutters with every turn of the page!

The post Review: Batman: Killing Time #4 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer:  Rory McConville

Artist: Ron Salas

Colorist:  Chris O’Halloran

Letterer:  Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

“What’s the highest paying job you have right now?” – Sebastian

Time Before Time #13 -With a large price on their heads, Tatsuo and Nadia have bounty hunters in every century on their trail. Sebastian, a grizzled veteran, embarks on a dangerous mission to track down the fugitives in the hopes of giving his family a better life.

PART ONE OF A TWO-PART STORY by new SPAWN writer RORY McCONVILLE, featuring art by RON SALAS!

Positives

Writer Rory McConville provides another standalone issue to indicate just how far the Syndicate can reach.  The beauty in this issue is that we start in a time circa Downton Abbey.  To see Sebastian appear in the middle of something out of Biltmore Estates displays just what type of play ground McConville has at his disposal.

In fact, Sebastian’s prey barters for 5-10 more years in this time era.  What does it matter?  He cannot run as Sebastian can just appear ten minutes before this particular meeting and foil any chance of escape.  McConville has taken the “Please be kind and rewind!” VHS direction to heart.

Negatives… but not really

Issue #13 gets us yet behind the scenes as Tatsuo and Nadia’s tale is taking a back seat in the past two issues as we get to see other personalities explored.  What empathy we may have felt for this duo has quickly been replaced by Sebastian’s motives.  Whew…McConville has set us up as as conflicted readers!  Team Tatsuo or Team Sebastian……?

Verdict

Finally, the authors are setting up both sides…we get to see the other side of the coin and this subsequently sets up our emotions as readers being all over the place!

Again, get in on the ground floor of Time Before Time.  Click on the aforementioned link to transport yourself back in time to the first issue.  However, it is up to you to find Issues #2 – #13.  Maybe there is a portal that you can find to get those.

The post Image Comics Review: Time Before Time #13 appeared first on DC Comics News.