Reviews for July 6, 2016

AQUAMAN #2

Written by DAN ABNETT

Art and cover by BRAD WALKER and ANDREW HENNESSY

Variant cover by JOSHUA MIDDLETON

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

Each issue will ship with two covers.

“THE DROWNING,” Chapter Two: In issue #2, unity between land and sea is Arthur Curry’s greatest dream. But Black Manta has a dream too: to destroy everything Aquaman stands for, starting with the sea king’s Atlantean embassy and everyone in it.

Aquaman got off to an unexpectedly fast start. And now it's taking a sharp turn from everything it set up! That's surprising, and therefore welcome.

Of course, anyone can set up a cliche and then turn the board over -- the question is, what then? But I don't think we have to worry about that here. Abnett proved he was adept at foiling reader expectation while building entertaining personalities and engaging plots in Guardians of the Galaxy, and he seems to be following that blueprint here. That can only be a plus with Aquaman, a title that tends to get dragged down and hemmed in by the soggy weight of its own concept.

So here we had a surprise ending, and then a twist on top of that, followed by a change in direction (towards politics). So far, so good.

BATMAN #2

Written by TOM KING

Art by DAVID FINCH and MATT BANNING

Cover by DAVID FINCH

Variant cover by TIM SALE

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

Each issue will ship with two covers.

“I AM GOTHAM” Chapter Two: In issue #2, after a brush with disaster, Batman struggles to reconcile the fate he could be leaving behind for his city, and reaches out to the idealistic new hero, Gotham. But an evil is building that may overcome both Batman and his new ally.

I thought our two new super-characters would be foils for Batman, trying to be to Gotham what Superman is for Metropolis. I thought they would try to chase Batman out of town, by trying to show that heroes on the light side are better than heroes on the dark side. I expected, in other words, this story to go where stories like this normally go.

I was wrong. There is no animosity between the heroes, no competition, no special-episode learning moments. Instead,  photo spoiler-1.gif Gotham and Gotham Girl treat Batman like a mentor, something he surely knows how to be.

I have no idea where this is going. And that's good!

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

BOUNTY #1 (of 10)

Publisher: DARK HORSE

Writers: KURTIS WIEBE

Art/Cover: MINDY LEE

Cover: LEONARDO OLEA

FC • 40 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries

RAT QUEENS MEETS FIREFLY!

The Gadflies were the most wanted criminals in the galaxy—robbing corporations to redistribute wealth to the destitute. Now, with a bounty to match their reputation, the Gadflies are forced to abandon banditry for a career as bounty hunters ... ’cause if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em—then rob ’em blind!

Rat Queens creator Kurtis Wiebe joins forces with pop-comic sensation Mindy Lee to present a femme fatale sci-fi caper of epic proportions!

• Also features an exclusive bonus story and other special content. Dark Horse Comics is happy to announce that Rat Queens Eisner Award-nominated writer Kurtis Wiebe is bringing his latest creator-owned series to readers this summer with the arrival of Bounty #1.

This ongoing series sees Wiebe join forces with pop-comic sensation Mindy Lee to present a femme-fatale sci-fi caper of epic proportions!

Bounty is strongly my voice and one of my favourite comics I've ever written,” says Wiebe. “While it's about sisters who hunt criminals in the future, it is ultimately about the nature of family and the trust we share with those closest to us.  With a little bit of action and romance on the side. What Mindy Lee is doing with the art is unlike anything I've seen in comics before.”

Praise for Wiebe:

“With an honest love for the genre, Wiebe [is] building an impressive addition to the sword and sorcery genre of comics.”—Newsarama

“Wiebe fully understands the story he wants to tell. There's a confidence to his writing, a sense of direction.”—IGN

“Wiebe holds nothing back through his situational humor and his ability to turn clichés on their heads.”—Comic Book Resources

“Wiebe delivers, piping some fun and freshness in an otherwise overdone genre.”—Comics Bulletin

“The first issue of Wiebe’s new series is a roaring success as far as I’m concerned.”—Population Go

“I recommend checking in on the ground floor because it’s positioning itself as one of the most compelling stories of the new year.”—iFanboy

I didn't much care for this on first read, but I gave it a second read when not as tired. And I figured out that the story, despite shifting gears enough to confuse an inattentive reader, isn't too bad. But the art, which I assume is some manga style I haven't seen much of, was a big turn-off for me. Some may like oversize cat-eyes on every character, exaggerated limbs and hyper-activity, but it wasn't for me.

CONTROL #2

CONTROL #2

writer: ANDY DIGGLE, ANGELA CRUICKSHANK

artist: ANDREA MUTTI

cover: BEN OLIVER

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Mature

Detective-Sergeant Kate Burnham's homicide investigation leads to embarrassing revelations about a powerful Senator's sex life. But is his involvement a vital clue, a deliberate misdirection… or a warning? Only one surviving witness knows the awful truth – and he's next on the killer's hit list!

This is turning into a nice little mystery.

The protagonist really has no one to trust. Her superiors are protecting powerful politicians. Her partner says and does so little he might as well be wearing a sign saying "Don't trust me." (Whose side he's on is yet to be seen.) And I'm genuinely curious to see how all the different parts fit together.

DOCTOR WHO: SUPREMACY OF THE CYBERMEN #1

Publisher: TITAN COMICS

Writers: GEORGE MANN, CAVAN SCOTT

Artists: ALESSANDRO VITTI, IVAN RODRIGUEZ, TAZIO BETTIN

Colorist: NICOLA RIGHI, ENRICA EREN ANGIOLINI

Cover A: ALESSANDRO VITTI

Cover B: WILL BROOKS - PHOTO

Cover C: FABIO LISTRANI

Cover D: Coloring-in Variant

Cover E: Blank Sketch

Forbidden Planet/Jetpack Store Variant

Fried Pie Variant: CLAUDIA CARANFA (available at Books-A-Million and 2nd & Charles stores)

Diamond SDCC Variant: Des Taylor (available at SDCC 2016)

FC • 32pp • $3.99

For the Cybermen’s 50th-anniversary … YOU WILL BE DELETED! Exiled from Gallifrey at the very end of Time, Rassilon, fallen leader of the Time Lords, has been captured by the last of the Cybermen. Now the Cybermen have access to time travel. With it, every defeat is now a victory. Every foe is now dead — or Cyberized. Titan Comics’ 2016 Doctor Who event — and the biggest Doctor Who story of the year — begins here!

The debut issue comes with five variant covers to collect: an art cover by series artist Alessandro Vitti, a photo cover by Will Brooks, a cool Cybermen variant by Fabio Listrani, a blank sketch variant, and a fun coloring variant – perfect to color in at home or in stores on Doctor Who Comics Day.

This would probably have meant more to me if I was more of a Whovian, but despite not really knowing one Doctor from another or having seen a Cyberman since the '70s, I thought it was well done. But someone more in the know would be a better judge than I.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

THE FLINTSTONES #1

Publisher: DC COMICS

Written by MARK RUSSELL

Art and cover by STEVE PUGH

Fred and Wilma variant cover by IVAN REIS

Barney and Betty variant by WALTER SIMONSON

Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm variant cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN

Cave Pets variant cover by DAN HIPP

Coloring book cover by STEVE PUGH

Blank variant cover

40 pg • FC • $3.99 U.S. • RATED T

This issue will ship with seven covers.

“From the town of Bedrock, they’re a page right out of history …”

Writer Mark Russell (Prez) and artist Steve Pugh will bring readers their version of Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty, Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm in the debut issue of The Flintstones.

In this 40-page extra-sized premiere issue, fans will be introduced to the town of Bedrock, where Paleolithic humans dine on artisanal prepared mammoth after shopping at the Neandertall & Big Men’s Clothing stores, get the latest news via cave painting, and folks drive foot-powered cars. Join Fred and Barney as Mr. Slate sends them on a mission to show some Neanderthals a night on the town in hopes of luring them into this new system of “working for a living” – in his quarry, of course! Find out what happens to Fred and the gang when they finally get to learn how Bedrock’s “one percent” lives in this satirical take on life in the world’s first civilization this summer!

In the meantime, check out the debut cover to issue #1 by Steve Pugh and the great variant covers by Ivan Reis (DC Universe: Rebirth Special), Walt Simonson (Batman: Black and White Vol. 2), and Dustin Nguyen (Batman Eternal, Batman: Li’l Gotham).

The original Flintstones cartoon was, essentially, The Honeymooners in a made-up past where cavemen and dinosaurs lived together. (Which some Americans consider to be a documentary, apparently.) As such, it was a familiar comedy set-up that was self-explanatory. Not so much this book.

Why does it exist? I'm not sure. It's not terribly funny. It makes a few super-obvious points (bosses can be jerks, war is bad, civilization can be "getting someone else to do your killing for you."). We never even meet Pebbles or Bamm-Bamm and very little of the story takes place at home, so it's not a sitcom. Maybe a prehistoric The Office, only not as funny?

Future Quest was awesome. Scooby Apocalypse was pretty good. The Flintstones, however, needs to explain itself.

FUTURE QUEST #2

Written by JEFF PARKER

Art and cover by EVAN “DOC” SHANER

Variant cover by JILL THOMPSON

32 pg • FC • $3.99 U.S. • RATED T

This issue will ship with two covers.

Still reeling from their encounter with the ghost from outer space, Jonny and Hadji reach the wreckage of the vessel that burst through the vortex. The ship’s sole survivor doesn’t remember what she was fleeing, or even her own name…but she does know her pet is called Blip. Plus: journey to Earth’s past, 45,000 years ago—and witness the birth of the world’s first fantastic hero: Mightor!

Speaking of awesome ...

I raved about this book last time, and have nothing to add about how much you should be reading this. (OK, maybe a little: You should be reading this.)

I will add something I noticed in the first issue that has repeated, so I'm guessing it's on purpose (and therefore brilliant, and not just happenstance). And that is:

There are two major locations in this story, outer space (where Space Ghost and company are fighting a space monster) and Earth (where Dr. Quest's team is racing Dr. Tzin's team to collect strange alien bits coming to Earth, which of course are connected to the big bad out in space). The space bits move at a rapid pace, reminiscent of the sugary-cereal-fueled adrenaline rush of Saturday morning superhero cartoons. There's no time to explain anything! Who are the "Galactic Trio"? Were all those creatures part of the Herculoids cartoon back in the day? Who cares? THERE'S NO TIME TO EXPLAIN! MOVE, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! It honestly rouses me, and reminds me why I loved those old cartoons as a kid.

Meanwhile, the Earth sequences move at a more deliberate pace. If that sounds odd, then you are not hearing the Jonny Quest theme song in your head when reading those pages. (And why aren't you? Are you a Philistine or something?) Anyway, the Quest exploring bits move in time with the flute solo and speed up with the action bits. It's a masterful bit of pacing.

The space scenes are all action. The Earth scenes are a chess match, punctuated with shooting. Frankly, I couldn't be enjoying the book more.

GHOUL SCOUTS: NIGHT OF THE UNLIVING UNDEAD #2

Writer: STEVE BRYANT

Art: MARK STEGBAUER, JASON MILLET

Cover A: MARK STEGBAUER

Cover B: JAMAL IGLE

Cover C: STEVE BRYANT

32 pgs. • Rated. E • FC  • $3.99 (reg.) • $4.99 (var.)

After finding their camp deserted and destroyed, the scouts have to fight their way through more zombies to reach Full Moon Hollow. But will anyone there be able to help them solve the mystery behind this zombie outbreak and save the town? Is there even a town left to save?

This is a cute idea, if you can suspend your disbelief to accept that five pre-teens can hold off zombies with improvised weapons like frying pans and slingshots (while adults evidently can't). And the art, I am loathe to say, seemed a bit on the amateurish side to me. But, as I say, cute.

GREEN ARROW #2

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY

Art by OTTO SCHMIDT

Cover by JUAN FERREYRA

Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T+

Each issue will ship with two covers.

“THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OLIVER QUEEN” Chapter Two: In #2, Green Arrow is betrayed, broken and left for dead. He wakes up in a world where the once-wealthy Oliver Queen has no resources and only the faintest clue what’s happened to him. Meanwhile, in a distant land, an old ally begins a quest to help the Emerald Archer in his darkest hour.

I have to say that I've read way too many stories about a character losing everything and having to start over. Way too frequently that story has been in Daredevil ... or Green Arrow.

But OK, treat it like a baseball game: You can sleep through innings 3-7 and when you wake up the score is the same as when you nodded off. That's Green Arrow #2: You can sleep through the middle part of the book, and when you wake up at the end, you already know the score.

Now what they do with this new beginning will determine whether it was worth plowing this old gorund, of if it just ends up in the pile with the other Green Arrow stories that start this way. I'll give Percy the benefit of the doubt for at least one more issue, primarily because I like Schmidt's artwork. It has a Trevor on Eeden vibe that's appropriate for this book.

GREEN LANTERNS #2

Written by SAM HUMPHRIES

Art by ROBSON ROCHA and JAY LEISTEN

Cover by ROBSON ROCHA and JOE PRADO

Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

These issues will ship with two covers.

“RAGE PLANET” Chapter Two: In issue #2, the world descends into rage! Crowds are rioting while Simon and Jessica find themselves powerless to stop the carnage. With their backs against the wall and no other options available, Earth’s rookie Green Lanterns take the fight to the Red Lanterns’ Bleez!

The Red Lanterns story finally kicks into gear, which is welcome after two issues of set-up. That was needful, though, to see how not-simpatico Simon and Jessica are. They genuinely seem to dislike each other, and if they become a couple down the road, I will be very disappointed. Opposites only attract in magnets and cliched stories -- in real life, they usually repel, and it would be a welcome change of pace for that to happen here.

But probably not. Anyway, our two rookies are learning the ropes. And I can't wait until that's over and we get to see some action!

Continuity note: Despite appearing on the cover, Bleez does not appear inside.

FIRST ISSUE ALERT

JUSTICE LEAGUE REBIRTH #1

Written by BRYAN HITCH

Art by BRYAN HITCH

Cover by TONY S. DANIEL

Variant cover by JOE MADUREIRA

This issue will ship with two covers.

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

Spinning out of the events of DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH #1, a new day dawns for Earth’s greatest heroes as they welcome three new members to the team, including…Superman? Who is this strange visitor from a dead world—and can he be trusted? Batman and Wonder Woman aren’t so sure.

Of all the Rebirth books we’ve seen so far (there are still quite a few in the pipeline), DC’s premier team book is the one with the fewest surprises or revelations.

The League doesn’t yet trust the “replacement” Superman, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to last. And the team itself is a variant of the usual core group: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg and the two rookie Green Lanterns.

But like in Titans and Wonder Woman, there’s a suggestions that Dr. Manhattan's machinations may be exposed. Both Superman and Batman (and intrepid reporter pre-New 52 Lois Lane) suspect that the pre-New 52 Man of Steel being on this world, available when the other Superman died, is just too much coincidence to swallow.

So once again Rebirth is making the revamp part of the story. This time, for the first time since DC started monkeying with its own history in 1986, characters are aware that something has changed -- just like the reader is. And the characters themselves are looking for the responsible party.

KINGS QUEST #3

Writers: BEN ACKER, HEATH CORSON

Artist:  BOB Q, MCDAID

Covers: MARC LAMING (A), JONATHAN LAU (B), COLTON WORLEY (C)

Fans & retailers, order the cover of your choice!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

Kings in chains! Flash Gordon, The Phantoms, Mandrake the Magician, Prince Valiant, and Jungle Jim are captives of the most merciless emperor of any galaxy … and as it turns out, it’s not Ming! Spoiler: The heroes escape and there’s lots and lots and lots of space-fighting.

The first two issues of this series were pretty much in the space-romp category, with Flash leaping before thinking and dragging the team into one fight after another. There were some surprises along the way (Jungle Jim leaps to mind), but this issue takes a turn that makes the first two issues seem like a head fake. I won't spoil anything, and I really can't, because I have no idea where this is going now. That takes the book out of the realm of the ordinary and makes me really eager for the next issue, so they're doing something right.

Incidentally, the "Spoiler" in the solictation above is not true. If "the heroes escape and there's lots and lots and lots of space-fighting," then that must be in a subsequent issue, because it ain't in this one.

LONE RANGER / GREEN HORNET #1

Writer: MICHAEL USLAN

Artist: GIOVANNI TIMPANO

Cover: JOHN CASSADAY

Incentive covers: GIOVANNI TIMPANO (Green Hornet Design), GIOVANNI TIMPANO (Lone Ranger Design), JOHN CASSADAY (B/W art)

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

A tale of super-heroics and family that has taken eighty years to be told! This first chapter, entitled "Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear," creates a world of carefully

researched alternative history in 1936 as we learn whatever happened to The Lone Ranger and discover his familial link to the emergence of a man who is a modern day urban version of The Lone Ranger himself. What is the blood connection of The Green Hornet to The Lone Ranger? What is the link of Olympic runner Jesse Owens to The Green Hornet? What role does Bat Masterson play in The Lone Ranger's New York adventure? What intense rift tears a family apart just when America desperately needs a great champion of justice? The shocking answers lie in the historic first issue of "The Lone Ranger Meets the Green Hornet: Champions of Justice!”

I was so looking forward to this, and was so disappointed. Maybe I set the bar too high.

I found the story predictable, bland and exposition-heavy. I found the art mediocre (and everyone's hands too large). I'll stick around for at least one more issue because Michael Uslan's name is attached. But it better perk up!

SUPERMAN #2

Written by PETER J. TOMASI and PATRICK GLEASON

Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY

Variant cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT

32 pg • FC • $2.99 U.S. • RATED T

Each issue will ship with two covers.

“THE SON OF SUPERMAN” Chapter Two: In #2, Superboy takes flight as he accompanies his father, the Man of Steel, on their first mission together to confront a creature more dangerous than anyone realizes. Will the duo triumph ... or will they die when they face the lethal force of the Eradicator?

There's a lot of talking among the principals of this book, but that's not a complaint. This reader, at least, has a lot of affection for the pre-New 52 Superman, Lois Lane and Jon Kent, and I don't mind listening in as they work out the details and philosophy of their new lives.

We do, in fact, get the Eradicator in the last panel. But whatever he has planned will have to wait until next issue. Meanwhile, this is a very nice episode of Leave it to Jonathan, with his Super-cool parents, Clark and Lois.

VAMPIRELLA #5

Writer: KATE LETH

Artist: EMAN CASALLOS

covers: CHRISSIE ZULLO (A), SERGIO DAVILA (B)

Incentive cover: SERGIO DAVILA (B/W ART)

Fans & retailers, order the cover of your choice!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99 • Teen+

What do you get when you put two werewolves, a telepath, a vampire from space, and a demonically-charged horror queen in the basement of a mansion filled with monsters? You get the fifth issue of Vampirella, that's what – the epic conclusion to our first arc!

As the blurb above specifies, this is the end of the first arc. And ... it was OK.

Now, Vampirella has never been pretended to be a cerebral book. (My wife read some of the Archives material and pronounced it "stupid.") Vampi is a sexy vampire who fights monsters -- not exactly War and Peace.

But it doesn't have to be predictable, and a lot of this storyline was, especially in the characterization department. Oh, look, two quirky lesbians who broke up long ago ... think they'll get back together? Oh, look, an arrogant villain. Think she'll get her comeuppance? Etc.

And there isn't much sexy, as Vampi's new outfit is demure (and UGLY), and if characters are hooking up, it's between panels. I don't need much "fan service," but part of the appeal of this strip is the sexy, which keeps readers (well, male readers) from thinking too hard about the ridiculous premise. (Or thinking much at all, if it's done right.)

Ah, well. This iteration of Vampi isn't bad, but it isn't really clicking -- at least not yet. I'll keep reading, but I sure miss Gail Simone, who gave us a Vampi who was sexy and engaging because of her confidence (and had much better dialogue).

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  • I bought 17 comics yesterday, five of the above. I'll be back Monday.

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