Pull List 10/31

Hey!

     I have ordered my weekly comic books online today. They should get to me on either Saturday or Monday. The reviews that I decide to do for these issues will be published early next week. These comic books are:

Image: Bedlam #1 (I am super excited for this book!)
           Fatale #9
           Happy #2

Marvel: Hit Girl #4

Zenescope: Wonderland #4


Oh I am also purchasing a couple more books this week ( today in fact ). The review for these if I decide to review them will be published in the next couple of days. These are:

Ultimate Spider-Man #16.1
Wolverine and the X-Men #19

I hope you all have a great Halloween! Stay safe.


         

Punisher War Zone #1 Review

After the fantastic conclusion of the Punisher series we now step right into this mini without missing a beat. The premise I believe is that the Avengers are not too happy with what Frank Castle has been accused of, so are taking it upon themselves to hand out their own kind of justice.

This issue sees Spider man confront the Punisher in order to let him know how he feels about how he carries out his business. What I really enjoyed was that it was Spider Man who got to be the first to show his displeasure. As we all are aware, in recent times he has been used for light relief in regards to his Avengers appearances, so it was nice to see him be more serious for a change. What he said to Frank was heartfelt, and it was clear to see just how Franks' action affected him on a personal level as they go against all his beliefs. They had a brief fight during this encounter, and I really enjoyed how Frank got away from it. It was clever and it really needed to be considering Spidey has superpowers and he has none.

Spider Man then approaches the Avengers with the idea to take Frank down. This was met with complete disinterest from the whole group. Going back to Spidey being light relief, this reaction from the group made perfect sense for me. However he ended up striking a nerve with Captain America, which of course led to the whole team then getting involved. 

The question that remains is just how is Frank supposed to fight a war that he knows nothing about? Well that is where Wolverine steps up. The encounter of theirs only lasted a few panels, but the mutual respect they shared was clear to see. They both believe in violence, as well as having no limits set for themselves. I do not know much about the history between them, but this scene for me completely made sense and was great to read through.

Although I believe the artist is different from Rucka's Punisher run, it still has the same feel to it that that series had. There are a lot of panels without any dialogue in this issue, but they really do not need them. The art speaks for itself. I know that is pretty cliché but it really does. By looking at these panels you can tell exactly what Frank Castle is thinking without him even having to open his mouth.

To be honest I was expecting this mini series to just tie up any loose ends from the ongoing which has just finished. I could not have been more wrong. Instead it is carrying the story on, while also acting as an explanation for Frank Castle's situation when Marvel NOW! comes a long. Or thats what I believe anyway. We will have to wait and see. I am definitely picking up the next issue as well as the rest of the series. If you are a fan of the Punisher or Greg Rucka then I suggest you do the same.

Rating: 9 / 10

Revival #4 Review

So, for those not too familiar with this series, allow me to explain a couple of things first. Lets start with what a "reviver" is. In this book it is a human being that got killed on a certain day, only to come back alive again. This day is known as "revival day". Unfortunately it looks like some of these revivers may be a bit dangerous, as they have caused deaths within the small community of a town in Wisconsin. This town is now under lockdown from the CDC.
There are a large range of characters which have been introduced to us in this series, so I am not going to go through them. But what I will say is this is a book you need to become more familiar with if you have not picked it up yet.

So what makes it so great? The writing for starters. We are only four issues in yet all the characters feel familiar. It is difficult not to get invested in their lives in the book as they attempt to find out more about the revivers as well as the events surrounding them. The art? Just as special. Make no mistakes about it, this is a horror book, and the art really helps to build the suspense up as you read it.

This particular issue gives you more questions than answers, which for some series frustrates readers greatly. However, Tim Seeley is doing a great job at making you want to find out more. I finished this book and became immediately saddened that I had to wait another month until the next issue. Some people would argue that it maybe then this book should be picked up in trade, however I disagree completely. The mystery and intrigue helps make this series what it is.
This issue also gave us a lot of character interaction which was great to see. It may have been low on action this month, but some of the character moments were great.

It is hard to review this book and not give away the story. It just has to be read to have the effect that it was intended to have upon the reader. Therefore this month and this month only I am not going to give any spoilers, be it major or minor. However next month I am going to start giving some small spoilers so pick this up. Also, considering the time of year, this is a really fitting series to start to get in to.


Rating: 9 / 10

Blog Update!

Hey Guys,

            I bought Y: The Last Man book one deluxe hardback today ( as pictured below). I am planning on reviewing it in the next couple of weeks. That review will appear right here on my blog.

In the next couple of days I am also planning on writing a review for Revival #4, as well as possibly Punisher War Zone #1. Those of course will also be posted right here.

It has been a pretty quiet week this week for me comic book wise. I have only picked up about 5-6 books. However, I have had to order Ghost #0 and #1 after reading rave reviews on the latest issue. They both sound like awesome books. They may also gain reviews in the near future after they have arrived and been read. Let me know what you think.

If any of you guys have twitter then please follow me :D just search: jdubcomics, and I am sure you will find me. I also follow back because I am nice and friendly!

Hope you all have a great weekend. Be sure to stay safe.

Take Care!

Amazing Spider Man #696

With the last issue of ASM hitting stores in December, we are currently working our way through the build up to that historic event. So lets see what happened in this issue, and if I am more excited for #700 (if that is even possible).

So Peter Parker has been kidnapped by the current Hobgoblin (Phil Ulrich), and taken to the Kingpin. Luckily for Peter they just assume he is a friend of Spider Man, and not the main man himself. Max Modell was then sent a video of Parker tied up, and told to bring a suitcase that Spider Man had taken from them to their current location.
This next scene of Modell snooping around Parker's lab was genius  and really had me believing that Modell would find evidence proving that Peter was the wall crawler. It is clear to see that Max is currently in the process of putting the pieces together, but I am not too sure whether he will figure it out in time for #700 or whether we are just being teased.

Another nice scene was seeing Roderick Kingsley (the old Hobgoblin) looking around Ulrich's apartment. It felt creepy, while also making Kingsley seem dangerous at the same time. It may have only lasted two pages, but this was one of my favourite scenes in the book, which is impressive considering my knowledge of Hobgoblin history is pretty minimal.
This led us to a fight between the two Hobgoblin's which to be honest I was pretty disappointed with. I thought the art made it slightly confusing, and it just was not as epic as I expected it to be. But I guess with so much going on in this issue, it may have been hard to give it any more room.

I enjoyed Peter Parker using the web shooters against Kingpin's group of Ninjas in order to escape. He had to pretend that he was only slightly familiar with them, which you could tell Max was not too sure he believed.
The two Hobgoblins then realise they must team up in order to retrieve the Goblin Key, which has been stolen by Peter and Max. This leaves us waiting until next issue to see just how the two "geeks" escape the Hobgoblins, as well as what happens next in general in this series. Surely Peter is going to use some of his powers to fight them off, but can he hide this from Max?

I really enjoyed this issue, which is not unusual for an issue of ASM considering that Spider Man is my favourite superhero. However, issue #700 feels a long way away unfortunately, and I believe that if this milestone was not approaching then I may have enjoyed this issue even more so. I think I can speak on behalf of many Spidey fans when I say I am just desperate to have the last issue in my hands, and to know how everything ends. Saying that, #700 would be nothing without the build up leading up to it. So with that in mind, yes, this was another solid issue of ASM. Pick it up as I am sure it will make #700 even more enjoyable when it finally does arrive.


Rating: 7.25 / 10

Superman #13 Review

This series has been slated pretty much from the first issue of the new 52. There have been creative team changes galore as DC are desperate for this book to be a success, what with " Man Of Steel" being released next year. So enter Lobell and Rocafort, who are now in charge of Clark Kent's adventures. I believe this is Lobdell and Rocafort's first issue together ( apart from #0" ), so lets see how they did with it.

We start the issue with Superman training and testing his limits in an underground lab / gym type thing. This looked very cool, as well as making a lot of sense. Surely he needs to see exactly what his powers can enable him to do, so he has to test them right? But where does he test himself? This answers that perfectly.

Of course, the big talking point of this issue is Clark walking out on the Daily Planet. I also really enjoyed this, as we saw the real Clark Kent for one of the first times in this series. His strong moral viewpoints are what makes Clark who he is, so it was very good to see that come out in this issue. However, his rant could be seen as being a bit of a lecture aimed at the readers, which I really hope was not Lobdell's intention when writing it. I do not read a comic book to have the writer attempt to throw their views on to me. Saying that, I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt in relation to this one, as in the context of the issue, it ruled and was done extremely well.

The dragon type creature, that seems to have some sort of connection with H'el, looked awesome. The fight Superman had with it looked very good, and I also enjoyed how the dragon was disposed of eventually. My only gripe with this is the location of the final blow ( are there oil fields in Ireland? Really? ).
Of course, Supergirl then appeared with a very interesting reveal, which leaves me very excited for the next issue as well as other issues connected to this event.

Another interesting thing about this issue is the character Cat Grant. She walked out on the Daily Planet after Clark made his speech and left himself. This is pretty out of character for Cat, so it will be interesting to see whether she has some other intention. Also, Jimmy had a nice moment towards the start of the book. Jimmy Olsen, a ladies man? Who would have thought it?

Let me just mention the art briefly. After seeing the preview to this event, I really wasn't crazy about it at all. It's different to say the least. However, I really think that it works in this issue, and I only think it will improve over time if this team stays together on the book for a while.

I enjoyed this book, and thought it acted as a nice little prelude to the "H'el on Earth" event that is kicking off next month. I have always enjoyed this series, and do not understand the hate it generally receives. So if you are one of those people who have not been reading it, then give this issue a chance. It is a great jumping on point, and you never know you may even enjoy it.


Rating: 7 / 10

Hawkeye #3 Review

I am going to be completely honest here. I have followed this series from the very beginning. However, I thought the first two issues were just OK. They both had rave reviews thrown at them from all directions, which made me feel like I must be missing something. This issue I believe I have finally found that something. For me, everything that Matt Fraction was trying to do has finally come together. Accompanied by David Aja's art, we have here an absolutely fantastic little story.

In similar fashion to the first two issues, we are thrown into a scene that is currently happening right now after having had no back story whatsoever. The rest of the issue then gives us the background, and then goes on to show what unfolds next. In the previous two issues I have felt a little confused by this. Of course I have read comics set out in this way before, but it felt a little bit muddled for me in this series. However, I think this time around the creative team have hit the nail on the head.
The issue flows brilliantly throughout. The script is very entertaining, and the art really works well along with it. The art is actually something that bothered me previously. I have always thought that it has been great, yet slightly inconsistent. In this issue though, it is just perfect. It almost feels like the team have finally got to a point where they know exactly what they both want to do after feeling each other out for the first couple of issues.

Now on to the characters that make up the story. Clint is a very very likeable character in this series. He is not afraid to take the mickey out of himself, and this self deprecating humour was a real highlight for me in this issue. He seems to enjoy putting himself down for whatever reason which is great to see, especially as he is a member of The Avengers. The dialogue between him and Kate is tremendous in this issue, and once again leads to a couple of comedic moments. Speaking of Kate, having previously been unsure about her place in the book, I am now very glad that she seems to be a constant character. After reading this issue, it feels like this book without her would be just wrong.

The way the story listed some of the arrows Clint carries was also very insightful. Of course, some of these were included just for fun, but it was interesting nonetheless. I also liked how the events in the issue were listed in the form of the 9 mistakes he made in that day. It helped the issue flow, and it made the issue feel like it could have been a 20 minute episode for a TV show. Or maybe that is just my take? Of course the bad guys in this issue should not be forgotten about. They were pretty harmless in reality, but the way they said "bro" after pretty much everything probably put a smile on everyone that has read this issue.

As you can see, I really enjoyed this issue. I went into it with the thinking that if I came out of it with the same feeling as I did with the first two issues, then I was going to drop it. Now after reading it, I think I may have to re-read those issues again. This is without a doubt my book of the week.


Rating: 9/10

Daredevil #19 Review

In the last few issues of this series it has looked as though Matt Murdock is losing his mind. The remains of his dead Father have been found in his desk drawer at his office, and he is having hallucinations of his ex wife. He has also lost his job at the law firm that he shared with Foggy, who really wants to get Matt what he sees as some much needed help.

Right from the start of this issue it seems as though Matt is carrying on down the slippery road that he is on. He temporarily loses his billy club, but finds it just in time as he swings into a bus which actually turns out to be his apartment. Yes, it seems like Matt has lost it completely. After speaking to Hank Pym, he figures out just who is behind what is happening to him, as well as behind all the strange mob leader murders. However, we do not find that out just yet...

There is a scene in a bar between Foggy and Matt's current woman in his life; Kirsten McDuffie ( which is actually quite a strange surname when you think about it ). In all seriousness though this was my favourite scene in the whole book. The emotion really jumped off the pages, and seeing Foggy in the state he was in was heartbreaking. He cares so much for his best friend, and only wants the best for him. He believed that the best thing to do was to tell Kirsten who Matt really is. The predicament he found himself in was a tough one, and that was clear to see all over his face as Chris Samnee nailed the art perfectly in what was a very important scene.

The ending of this book was a really odd, yet enjoyable one. We found out the Coyote is behind all the odd things happening in Matt's life, as well as being behind the murders. The last page of the story really was a true shocker. It looks as though Coyote has Matt's head in his hands while his decapitated body is tied up to a post next to them. It really is odd, and when I first turned on to it, it really was a WTF moment ( as much as I hate that phrase ).

Coyote seems like a pretty interesting villain. Waid and Samnee combine to make him seem light hearted while also being creepy at the same time, if that makes any sense at all. For example, seeing his multiple sets of arms appear all around Matt was like watching something out of a classic horror movie, while at the same time being somewhat ridiculous. He is a nod to old school comic books for sure. He is wacky and different, without making the reader lose interest in the character, or feel like their intelligence is being insulted. Coyote also seems like a pretty perfect way of explaining all the strange things that have been happening to Matt, so I guess he is being played to perfection. So far so good anyway.

It was always clear that not all is as it seems in regards to the situation with Matt Murdock's current state that he finds himself in. This issue confirmed that for us, and also makes you intrigued as to how everything will play out in the next issue or so. I am sure Matt will find a way to get rid of Coyote, but how is he supposed to convince those closest to him that all is well? I cant wait to find out.


Rating: 8.3 / 10

The Walking Dead #103 Review

If you are not reading this series then you really have to ask yourself why you are not. Either pick up the trades and get going right from the beginning, or start from the "Something to Fear" story arc which started in either issue #96 or #97 I think. This is a fantastic series, and it truly deserves all the rave reviews that it generally gets.

This issue continues right where we left off from last issue as we see Jesus following the prisoner they let escape. I really enjoyed the art in these panels which really helped give the feeling of tension as Jesus tried to remain hidden from the ex prisoner, while also attempting to keep up right behind him. They had no text whatsoever, so the art had to be spot on, which it was.

The main reason this issue will be remembered is due to the fact that it is Negan's second appearance in the series, and he is just as menacing as he was the first time around. He swears pretty much every other word, but not once does it feel forced or false. He truly is a terrifying,  messed up individual. The first thing he does is make Rick look after his barbed wire bat named "Lucille", showing straight away to the readers and to the group that he is in control of this situation. His conversation with Carl was also great, as Carl tried to stand up to the bully. I was on the edge of my seat as I read this, as I really believed that this man could do great damage to Carl, all the while not even worrying about it on his conscience later. His last line to Rick at the end of the issue may probably be the greatest text in a last page panel I have ever read in my life. I am not going to report what he said in this review, but it really is chilling.

The close up shots of Rick in this book also showed how he was really fighting his inner self, and how he was trying so hard to keep his control while Negan was bullying, and making demands of the group. When he told Denise to step down and let Negan's men take what they wanted from the medical department, the inner turmoil was clear to see. He hated himself for letting the group be trampled all over in this way, yet he knew he had too if his plan was to work.
Oh yes, Rick's plan. We do not really know what it is yet, but it is clear that there will be many more confrontations between Rick and Negan, and Rick may even have the upper hand in some of these due to his plan.

This was another great issue in the series, and I am sure it will go along way to help convince some people that Negan really is a terrifying threat. Put it this way, I think he may be more of a threat than "The Governor" was, and that really is saying something. Once again I really can not wait until the next issue. It always feels so far away!


Rating: 8.5/10

Late Reviews!

I have got pretty far behind with my reviews this week. HOWEVER, there will be three or four reviews posted on this blog tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your patience, and also for continuing to check this page out :)

Take Care!

Supergirl #13 Review

You may have noticed that this issue was not one that I originally intended to review. Well, I received a request to do a review for it, so now I am. Luckily, I thought the issue as a whole was great ( and 100 times better than Catwoman, which is what I was originally going to review ).

The issue takes place in what is Kara's new fortress of solitude type place called "Sanctuary". Tycho was waiting for her arrival there, as seen in the last issue. After he explains what Sanctuary is, and shows her what was on the crystal shards sent from Krypton on her pod, a battle between the two commences. Kara comes out on top, and the issue ends with her viewing Superman fighting a villain from Krypton. This nicely leads on to the upcoming H'el on Earth crossover event between the the Superman family books.

This series has had some pretty negative reviews throughout, which is a shame seeing as I have really enjoyed it and have stuck by it. The pacing of this series is fantastic, and the character development has been superb. Some say the development of Kara has been too slow, but I believe it has been done at a perfect pace. This issue saw a side of Kara that we have not seen before; a totally unforgiving side of her. The way she left Tycho trapped in the Sanctuary, showing no remorse whatsoever was a great character moment for her, and could be something that defines her in future issues.

Tycho was never really a great or dangerous villain in this series, but I liked the way he was used in this issue. He was there to pretty much explain everything that had gone on in previous issues, as well as the events of the #0 issue last month. What was great about this was that it never felt forced, and it never felt like it thought the reader was stupid. It had a great flow to it, and I believe it was ultimately needed as I for one was a bit hazy on previous events due to last months break.

Overall, Supergirl #13 was another solid issue in a series that does not get all the credit that it deserves. This issue, accompanied with the #0 issue, would be a great little jumping on point for this series. So if you are not on board, I suggest you get on board quickly. The end, as pointed out earlier, acted as a nice little lead up to the upcoming crossover, which I am eagerly anticipating. I may even be anticipating it more so after reading this issue. 

Rating: 7.5 / 10

AvX Consequences #2

If you read my  review on the first issue of this series then you will know that I was not really expecting much from this issue. However, I have read it and I am actually pleasantly surprised with it. Most of the issue, save for a couple of pages, took place in one room, and what happened in this room really rocked.

 In this room were Cyclops and Wolverine. The tension was unbearable as Cyclops entered. He took a seat and waited for Logan to address him on why he came to see him. Logan was there to find out the location of Cyclops' extinction team, however that is not what he started the conversation with. He could not help but yell at Scott for carrying on down the path he had chosen with the Phoenix, not turning back once and reconsidering his options. What really surprised me though is that Scott still, yes still, believes he was right to do so. He stated that there would not be any new mutants without him, and that he will go down in history as saving mutantkind. After taunting Logan with the mention of Jean Grey, Scott nearly got killed by him. However, Wolverine saw that this is what he wanted so stopped immediately. After Cyclops attempted to make a deal to give the location of his extinction team Wolverine stormed out. The issues ends with Scott and another mutant inmate on the verge of being attacked by a group of their fellow prisoners.

This was a great issue. Very tense, and also hit the right notes emotionally. Who we saw in this issue were Scott and Logan, not Cyclops and Wolverine. That human element was played excellently. It also never felt like you were drowning in text when reading it either, which is difficult to achieve. However, what helped with that was the great art. It has definitely improved from the last issue in the series which I wasn't sure on at all. Wolverines' facial expressions were spot on and really helped tell the story without excessive amounts of text.

I am also starting to really like where Cyclops is going character wise. Yes, his ego is going more and more through the roof every issue, but I love it. He actually reminds me of CM Punk, the WWE wrestler, and his current character on TV. Very entertaining stuff. Logan was typically Logan in this issue, but was written superbly. He was flipping through all sorts of emotions throughout the issue, and you really felt what he was going through.

All in all I really enjoyed this issue. I have gone from not caring about this series at all, to really looking forward to the next issue. However, that can all change of course, but forget about that for the moment. This issue was terrific, and in this article that is all that matters.


Rating: 8 / 10

New Comic Book Day 17/10

Here is a list of the books I am picking up this week. I will be reviewing some of them, but not all.  At the minute I am thinking of reviewing: Catwoman, Justice League, The Walking Dead, AvX Consequences, and Daredevil. If you have any requests for reviews then please let me know and I will do them first.

Have a great day everybody!

DC - Catwoman #13 , Justice League #13 , Supergirl #13
Image - The Walking Dead #103
Marvel - AvX Consequences #2 , Daredevil #19 , Hawkeye #3 , Marvel NOW Point One #1 , Marvel Zombies Halloween One Shot, Ultimate Spider-Man #16

Happy #1 Review

We have all had that feeling. The feeling that you know you will love something even before you have read it. That is the feeling I had about this four issue mini series before I had even received the first issue in the post. To tell you the truth I am not Grant Morrison's biggest fan. I would even go as far as saying that I try to avoid his work altogether due to it being a bit too weird and Morrison-ish. However, this title is weird in a good way. I can honestly say I have never read anything like it.

The main character of this book is Nick Sax; a corrupt ex cop who is now a hit-man. The first half of this book see's him attempting to complete a hit on three brothers. He succeeds in doing so, but he also has to kill a fourth brother who was not anticipated to be there. This brother attempted to get out of being killed by giving Nick a password to a bank account containing the family fortune. Nick refused the password because he is just that kind of guy. Unfortunately for Nick he took a bullet in the side during the fight with the brothers which sees him ending up in hospital. This leads to somebody only know to us as Mister Blue to send a hit-man torture squad out to the hospital to retrieve the password for this fortune. Unbeknown to Mister Blue, and as mentioned earlier, Nick does not know it.

So far this all sounds pretty standard. Nothing too strange going on here. Very unlike Morrison. However, while in his hospital bed, Nick starts seeing a small blue cartoon horse who introduces himself as "Happy the horse". Happy claims to be a girl called Hailey's imaginary friend. We also learn that Hailey is in trouble and that Happy has come for Nick's help in order to save her. Yep, things just got weird.

I absolutely love the premise for this series. I really do not know what Grant Morrison was on when coming up with this idea, but it really works. Nick's character is great. He is a bit cliché as he has gone from being the best detective in the force to being the disgrace of the department. In fact, he reminds me of Bruce Willis' character in the Die Hard's but obviously with less good naturedness. However, I think the cliché helps as we instantly feel like we know the character due to the amount of times we have read something similar. The fact that he is written well and has some pretty good dialogue also helps form a character that we will want to come back for more for.

As a comic book fan I am not used to reading about blue horses named Happy. It isn't really my genre ( is it anybodies? ) However, I liked every panel he was in ( I am also assuming it is a "he" ), mainly due to Nick wondering if he is real or if he has just lost his mind. I am looking forward to their interactions in the next three issues, which shows that Morrison has done a really great job at selling this. It could have been horrible, but it's not. Plus the c-word was used quite a lot. What's not to like?


Rating: 8.5/10

Punk Rock Jesus #4 Review

We are now past the midway point in this excellent mini series from Vertigo, and it is not letting up one bit. I really cant wait until the last issue comes out so then I can read this from the start all the way through. Yes, if you have not been on board from the beginning of this series then you will not have a clue what is happening in this issue, however if you have then this is yet again another great issue. Within the first few pages of this book there is a major death. The character who dies is Chris' mum, Gwen. Murphy has teased a couple of times in this series that Gwen would be killed off, so there is no surprise that it actually happened. However, it is the circumstance, as well as the cause of death, that are very shocking.

Since Gwen has left the confines of J2 she has become very close to the New American Christians (NAC). So close in fact, that the start of the issue see's her and the NAC army making an attempt to save Chris from Rick Slate and other people associated with J2. Unfortunately for her she ends up getting caught between a remote controlled steel door and therefore getting crushed to death. This door was controlled by the founder of J2, the wicked Rick Slate. Even though he hardly featured in this issue, Rick has been built up throughout the series to be a character who the readers truly love to detest. He is a vicious manipulative man, and him having something to do with Gwen's death is no shock at all. Murphy has done such a good job building this character, that it actually seems like a normal thing for him to do. Yes, he really is that evil.

The way Chris develops in this issue is really something. After his mothers death he starts going against Slate by listening to, and reading things that are banned. He listens to punk rock music, and reads about Darwins'  theory of evolution. Chris also starts taking interest in atheist theories, which is something Slate never let him get his hands on for obvious reasons. He also changes his appearance to match that of a punk rocker. This new appearance of his is premiered at the Grammy Awards as he is the host of the event. While on stage he makes an anti-Christian rant, before making his escape to New York where he ends the book becoming a member of a punk rock group. Chris' anger throughout the book jumped off the pages, as we feel him simmering about the events that take place. He finally erupts at the end and you can not help but root for him. It was great to read, and the reader can relate to the situation in some way as we have all been teenagers at some point, maybe even currently. We have not gone through the pressures and oppression that Chris has had to endure, but we have all been teenagers at some point. At the end of the day that is what Chris is, an ordinary 14 year old boy who hates being told what to do so ends up rebelling. However, his rebellion has wider consequences than the average teenager.

What was also great to see in this issue was a bit more of Thomas' back story. We knew he had an IRA background of some sort, and it is very interesting to see what he went through when he first joined this group. The scene where he murdered a large group of an enemy faction in their own bar was brutal. The art also ensured that it flowed very nicely, and helped show the true aggressive nature of Thomas perfectly.

The art in this book, and throughout the series, has been a major highlight for myself. It is in course in black and white. Before I read the first issue I was actually really worried about this, however it works so well. In fact, I don't think it would have had the same desired effect if it was coloured. It just wouldn't be the same.

The only think going against this series is that the story is so in depth that it is easy to forget what happened in the previous issue. Therefore, I think that this may be best read in trade format, hence another reason why I am going to read it all back before the last issue hits. Saying that, I am glad I got involved in this from the very start, as after reading the first issue I could not wait until the next issue was released. There was no way I could have waited until it got released as a trade.

As I mentioned at the start of this review, if you have been reading this from the start then this issue is a treat. This is another solid issue in what I believe to be the best mini series of the year. I don't think anything else comes close. There are two issues left and it will be a sad day when this has to end, however I can't wait to see how this concludes. It should be epic.


Rating 8.5/10

The Walking Dead Season 3 Premiere Review

So I am sat here watching The Walking Dead season three premiere for the second time, and let me tell you it is just as awesome as the first time. So much happens in this episode that it is really recommended to sit through it for a second time, if only for the action scenes. This episode focused a lot less on story than usual for a standard episode of this show, and instead was pretty much non stop action from start to finish.

The show picks up about 6-7 months after the end of season two. This means that we have completely skipped past the harsh winter months and are now in to what seems like spring. A lot has happened to the characters since we last left them. Lori is heavily pregnant, while Rick throughout the episode comes across as being very very cold with her. In fact at one point Lori confides in Herschel that she believes that her own husband hates her. He seems to have solidified his position as the leader of the group. This is shown as he comes up with every plan throughout the episode. Carl has also developed a lot since we last saw him. For one, he isn't afraid to shoot walkers any more that's for sure. What is also interesting with him is that even though they are in a world that is not normal in the slightest, he seems to be growing into a typical teenage boy. The writers are teasing a future relationship between him and Beth ( Herschel's daughter ) which looks as though it will be very fun to watch. Speaking of relationships, Glenn and Maggie have continued their relationship, and it looks like Daryl and Carol have even started up some kind of thing which was kind of expected. Moving on to Herschel, wow. What happened to him at the end of this episode just has to be seen.

Now, on to their current environment, the prison. Within the first 10 minutes of the episode they locate the prison. I am very happy about this as I thought they may wait until a couple of episodes in before getting there. The way they cleared the walkers from the prison was very entertaining and made up most of the episode, hence the mention of it being action packed. Everybody mucks in to clearing their path, which shows that a lot of training has probably taken place during the winter.

Michonne and Andrea seem to be somewhere else entirely, and I don't believe it was made clear where they are in relation to the rest of the group. I assume at some point they will probably find the prison, but I am hoping that happens sooner rather than later. Michonnes's interactions with certain members of the group are something that I am very much looking forward too.

I have mentioned the fact that we have skipped the winter a couple of times now. There was never really any mention of what happened during those months. Even though I don't want the series to dwell on the events of the winter, I would like some sort of insight of what they had to go through to survive during that time.

I really enjoyed this episode and I really cant wait for the next one to air. I am very impressed with the amount of stuff they fit in to it considering it was the length of a standard episode and not the 60 minutes that I was expecting for some reason. It gained some very high ratings when it aired, and I expect that to continue for the rest of the season if the episodes consistently keep up this quality. However, I hope they do not stray too far from what made the series successful in the first place, which is of course story. It was awesome to see so much action, but the TWD is nothing without its great character interaction. I am not too worried about that as I think AMC know exactly what they are doing with this show. Here's to next week!



Feel free to comment and share your thoughts on this episode. All feedback is greatly appreciated.





Image courtesy to appaddict.net. I do not own it.

Uncanny Avengers #1

So Marvel Now! is here. Well kind of. Most of the new books are not starting until next month. So yeah, its here but not here. I was quite excited for this series, but that was more due to intrigue. Going into this issue I wasn't too sure whether I was going to pick this series up regularly or not. Did this issue convince me one way or the other? Not really unfortunately.

Firstly, the team of the Uncanny Avengers consists of characters that I am not exactly massive fans of. Yeah sure, I love Cap, Thor and of course Wolverine. However, I am not really major fans of the Scarlet Witch or Havok. Saying that, I do think it is great t that Marvel are pushing forward some of their characters forward that are not as well known as others. Seeing the same characters team after team can get pretty boring, so thumbs up to them for trying something new.

Even though lesser known characters are being pushed in this series, Wolverine still had the best moment in the issue. He performed a perfect eulogy at Xavier's funeral, which was actually a very touching moment. Even though you could see it coming it still has the desired effect on you when reading it. Havok seeing his brother in SHIELD base was also pretty intense, and did a great job at making Cyclops come across as a real asshole. I know this is what they have been trying to do in other series during and after AvX, and in my opinion have failed miserably seeing as he is still one of my favourite characters. However, in this book his ideology really does seem flawed. He seems so full of his own importance and is therefore very very un likeable. As hard as that is for me to say. But as I stated, it is something that really need be done well, and they certainly succeeded.

A major turn off in this book for me were the villians used. Avalanche was just fine. His appearance was pretty good, which saw a solid little battle between him and some of the team in the middle of the book. It is the bad guy team that interrupted Scarlet Witch and Rogue that totally sucked. I assume they are new villians, but oh wow did they suck. They just looked terrible. They may be working for one of the most famous villians in the Marvel universe ( at least I think they are working for him ) at the end of the book but I hope that they do not play a big part in this opening arc. Red Skull was awesome to see at the end ( as seen in last sentence ) and his plan of action is pretty interesting and unique. It could be a devlopment to keep your eyes on.

Yeah so I am not totally convinced on this book just yet. Some pretty cool bits which got my attention, but overall it didn't make me desperate for the next issue. Saying that, I will probably purchase it to see more of Red Skull, Havok, Wolverine, and Cyclops. We will see. If I do I may only give it one more issue to really grab me. I really hope Marvel Now! as a whole is better than this.

Rating 6/10

Batman #13 Review

It is quite rare nowadays to be able to give somebody who doesn't read comic books, a single issue in order to get them interested in the medium. However, I have already pushed this on to one of my friends and his feelings towards this book are pretty much identical to mine on this one. It is incredible. There is absolutely no denying it, the return of The Joker has certainly lived up to the hype.

Scott Snyder has consistently been knocking it out of the park writing Batman in the New 52. In fact, off the top of my head I really do not think that there has been a bad issue. This is the reason so many people have been looking forward to this new take on Batman's mightiest foe. If there is one current writer at the moment who I would feel comfortable in writing a Joker story, then he is the man. Although this is only the first issue of a story arc that is running all the way into February, the foundations and the tone have already been set in this issue.

The scene where The Joker infiltrates the GCPD headquarters to steal back his face is executed to absolute perfection. There is a real horror story vibe about it. This is done not only by The Joker's actions, but also the wonderful art, that builds up a real sense of tension and claustrophobia. Seeing Gordon shining the light on areas that The Joker has just been, killing of his men one by one, is something right out of a horror movie. However, it works so well, and really feels like the perfect introduction for everybody's favourite psycho.  Add Gordons' facial expressions into the mix and you really feel like you understand just how terrible an ordeal this is for him, as you feel The Joker closing in on him.

The Joker manipulating a man into reading out some of his deadly intentions on live TV is also something that is not new. However, it feels so much like something that he would do ( and probably has done in the past ) that you just have to embrace it. The way he saw off the Mayor's men when everybody thought he was going to the kill the Mayor himself, also showed a stroke of genius that we know he is capable of. What was also interesting here was the different effect the famous toxin had on these individuals faces who died at the hands of The Joker. It added to the feel that Scott Snyder is trying to get across. Yes, he is The Joker, but he has come back as something more terrifying than we have ever seen. This was confirmed by the appearance of Harley Quinn as she shared these thoughts with Batman.

It is not quite clear what The Joker's true intentions are just yet. He described going after everybody associated with Batman at one stage in the book, as well as the title of the arc also nodding towards something similar to this. I do think this will take centre stage in the story, but I also get the feeling that there will be a lot more typical Joker mayhem that will have a larger affect on the world he is written in. He may have even got his hands on one of Batman's associates right at the end of the book, so we may even get a key death which will certainly shake things up a bit. However, it may be one I am not quite ready for.

The back up story featuring The Joker and Harley Quinn, showing Harley's first interaction with her idol when he returned from his brief hiatus was also a great little read. It showed how she got involved in the events in the main story, and confirmed just how maniacal this Joker seems to be.

I have only received this book today, so I have been hiding from all reviews on this book all week and I am still yet to have read one. I was also slightly worried that I might be left feeling disappointed, even though I have total faith in the team of Scott Snyder and Gregg Capullo considering their portfolio. However, I never had any need to worry, this is just fantastic. It is the story that a lot of Batman fans having been waiting months for, and even one issue in, it looks like it is going to be a truly thrilling ride throughout.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Suicide Squad #13 Review

 It's funny because this used to be at the top of my reading pile no matter what week it came out. However, now it has dropped right to the bottom of it due to the last two or three issues. In fact I nearly dropped the book altogether this month, but I am now glad that I didn't having read this issue.

The book starts with us joining the team on the hunt for Regulus in a Basilisk base. Deadshot shoots what he knows to be a fake Black Spider in the head, as he had already figured out that the real one will be wherever Waller is. We then skip over to Waller's Nana's house, where we see that Black Spider has taken her hostage. Waller and her Nana end up getting away from Black Spider by hiding away in the safe room located in the house. Heading back to Deadshot and Harley, we see them in a battle against their own squad mates. However, their squad mates have been taken over by Basilisk so have no control over their own actions. Deadshot and Harley help them regain their control, and then go on to team up with Boomer and his small army against the agents of Basilisk and Regulus himself. Back in the safe room with Waller and her Nana, we get a glimpse of Waller's past growing up. Her Nana threatened her with a gun in order to get her out of the neighbourhood so she would receive a better upbringing than the one she was getting there. Right after this has been shared, Black Spider comes through the door which ends up falling on top and crushing Waller's Nana, possibly to death. This is the last we see of these two as we go back to the battle against Regulus for the final time. Regulus grabs Deadshot from behind thinking he has got him under control. However Deadshot puts a bullet through his own chest in order for it to hit Regulus. Which it does. Deadshot then falls to the ground, where he is held by Harley as this issue ends.

There was a lot happening in this book, however it never felt like there was too much to keep up with. That is always the sign of a good issue. This is what many of the earlier Suicide Squad issues that gained critical acclaim, as well as a couple of sold out first printings felt like. Full of action, yet never leaving the reader feeling confused about anything. That is exactly what this issue does really well. These books have never been about deep story telling, but instead about just being  fun easy books to read that make you want to read more. This issue certainly delivered in that respect. I am now very eager to get my hands on next months issue, which is a feeling that I wasn't sure Suicide Squad could make me feel again.



Rating: 7.5/10




Image From ifanboy.com

AvX Consequences #1 review

I really enjoyed the whole of Avengers vs X-Men, all 12 issues. Yes, there were a couple of sub par issues, but as a whole I thought it was very very good. So following on from those events we have AvX: Consequences. Which as the title states, will be following the fallout from the epic six month story arc.

I found this book very hit and miss. There were some things done really well, while other things didn't seem to have the effect I think they were going for. Starting with the positives, it looks like there will be some big things to come from Wakanda and Black Panther. It seems that Wakanda are not forgiving the mutants so easily for destroying their home. This could lead to a possible conflict which would of course be very interesting. I have not read too many things with Black Panther involved in, so I would really like to see something like this put forward in the future. The scenes with Cyclops in the prison were also great. It should be fun to see how to copes in there with all the continual bad treatment towards him by the staff and possibly some other prisoners in future issues.

Now on to the negatives. The scene with Hope felt pointless. It seemed like they were trying to hit a certain emotional tone, and failed to do so. I wasn't really a fan of the scene between Cap and Wolverine. Wolverines' emotional state after the death of Xavier came over really well, and is in fact something I am looking forward to being explored more in depth. However, the scene as a whole I just think could have been done better. It didn't really flow right for me. I am also not very interested in whatever Captain Marvel and Iron Man seem to be up too. Obviously the foundations for their mission were just being set in this issue, but it failed to really interest me. Maybe my opinion on that will change after the next issue.

I cant write a review on this issue without mentioning the art either. Some pages it looked absolutely great. In fact Wolverine looked superb in every frame he was in. However, Captain America looked terrible throughout. It just didn't look like Cap enough for me.

Overall, I am stuck in the middle with this issue. The foundations have been set for some quite interesting things thus far, however there are other aspects of this mini series that I can tell already I will not be interested in in the slightest. This will not stop me picking it up though, as like most people who read AvX, I am desperate to see the implications of this years biggest story.

Rating: 5/10

Batgirl #13 Review

Here is my first review of this weeks comic books! I actually only have a couple of books at the moment due to a late delivery with my other books. However, I am anticipating them coming tomorrow, so there will be 2-3 reviews put up for tomorrow afternoon. Enjoy!

Firstly, let me just say that this cover is incredible. It acts as a handy check list for all the "Death of the Family" books, and it just looks so so cool! The Joker really does look like a total badass. However, the main man himself is not included in this book, most probably due to it being a prologue for the forthcoming story arc.

The first thing we see is a bloody and beaten Batgirl crawling along the floor as Knightfall stands over her triumphantly. We then get a brief back story explaining why Knightfall punishes criminals for their actions, followed by a pretty intense fight between the two women. After this, Knightfall gets escorted away and all is well and good. As you can see, not much has happened yet to set up the big story arc, and while reading it I was starting to feel a little frustrated as I only really bought this issue due to the fact that it was a prologue. Don't get me wrong, Batgirl is a great title, and I am collecting it in trade format. However, I was expecting this issue to be more orientated towards The Joker, but I guess that is just personal preference.

The last few pages do go on to set up the forthcoming events with a couple of nice set pieces. Firstly, we see Barbara get a terrified phone call from her mum, as three men with joker masks storm through her front door. We then see Batgirls' first three villians of the New 52 era being released from their respective prisons with one mission in mind: Kill Batgirl...

As you can probably gather I was not really amazed by Batgirl #13. I was expecting it to be tied a bit more closely to the "Death in the Family" story arc, but oh well! If you have been reading Batgirl all the way through from the start, then this issue will obviously slip really nicely into the ongoing story. However, if you are collecting the trades like myself, or just picked it up due to the very heavy advertising campaign, then you may be left feeling a little disappointed.

6.5/10

Arrow Pilot Thoughts

So I have finally got around to watching the Arrow pilot from Wednesday night! I am actually very impressed with what I saw. I have only read green arrow volume 1 from the new 52, so my knowledge on the character is pretty limited. Therefore, I did not think I would enjoy it. Oh how wrong I was...

I don't really want to give any spoilers away in this article, so I am just going to briefly run through what I thought was done really well in the pilot episode. My favourite scenes have to be Oliver escaping his kidnappers,  training in an abandoned warehouse , and the big fight scene at the end against Hunts' henchmen. As you can see, I thought the action scenes were done very very well, with some really nice set pieces thrown in them. I also liked his attitude during these fights. Instead of being worried about hurting people ( Smallville ) he really wasn't worried about dishing out some pain.

This brings me on to Oliver himself. The trailers for the series didn't really fill me with excitement about the character to be honest. However, after watching the pilot it is clear to see just how perfect a fit Stephen Amell is for Oliver Queen. The writing obviously also helps in making this a green arrow that I think the majority of comic book fans will really enjoy watching. He comes across as a bad ass with a heart, how can you not like that?!?

I am also really looking forward to seeing exactly what happened when he was stranded on the island for five years. They are giving hints that there is a story to be told about that, so I am very intrigued. The reveal about the detectives tie to a certain character was also a great moment, as well as the shock reveal at the end ( traitor in the family ).

It is still early days in this show, so it is impossible to tell whether it will continue to be as good as this first episode. However, it has got off to a great start, and I am sure there are many people like myself who are very excited for next weeks episode.

Green Lantern #13 Review

Me and GL #13 ( If you hadn't guessed )

OK, this is going to be a really quick review to the current time in the UK, and the fact I have a really busy day tomorrow. I should just go to bed but I need to let my thoughts out on just how awesome this issue was!

Last month in Green Lantern #0, we saw how Simon Baz became a Green Lantern. He then escaped interrogation after being arrested for stealing a truck. which unfortunately for him had a bomb in it which made him look like a terrorist. OK, brief recap done, onto this issue!

This issue follows on directly from last month as we see Simon Baz come to grips with the ring, and the power that comes with it. What is really interesting in this issue is that we get to see how his sister is affected by his actions. Her place of work seems to be doing their best to get rid of her after being led to believe that Simon is a terrorist, and was committing a crime against the country. You also really get a sense of the inner turmoil that she must be going through as she attempts to convince her family that there must just be a big misunderstanding and that is why Simon has been arrested. However, the art shows that it looks like she is struggling to convince herself. The book finishes with Simon attempting to meet up with his sister in a secret place after earlier arranging it with her, however he gets stopped by the Justice League...

I am really looking forward to seeing just where Geoff Johns is taking this story. He has done a great job in making you feel as though you already know Simon, even though he has only appeared in two issues. As much as I love Dan Slott  he needs to be shown that THIS is how you introduce a new major character ( unlike how Alpha was played out in ASM ). I am hoping for some sort of mini fight between Simon and the Justice League, or some epic team up, which would enable him to get used to using his ring. I am also looking forward to seeing the continuation of the effects this is having on his family. His sister should at least become a reoccuring character in this arc. Agent Fed is also a character of interest, and seeing him hot on Simon's trail will also be entertaining to say the least.

All in all, Johns has produced another really solid issue of Green Lantern. It has to be remembered that Hal Jordan and Sinestro were no where to be seen in this issue, which makes this feat even more impressive. I really do think that this could possibly be my favourite DC title ( behind Batman ) which is being produced right now. The colours have also been fantastic throughout the whole series, and that does not change in this book either. There is no question that this is also a very pretty book to look at. It is just a great issue from a creative team that you can just tell love being on this book.

Rating: 8.5 / 10

New Comic Book Day 10/10/12

Here is a list of titles that I am picking up this week. I will be reviewing 3-4 of these, if anyone wants particular issues reviewed then please let me know :)

DC: Batman #13, Batgirl #13, Punk Rock Jesus #4, Suicide Squad #13
Image: The Walking Dead Michonne Special, Happy #1 ( Think this came out a couple of weeks ago)
Marvel:  AvX Consequences #1, Captain America #18, Secret Service #4, Uncanny Avengers #1, Wolverine and the X-men #18

 I dont actually pick up my weekly books until Friday / Saturday usually, so there will be no new book reviews until the end of the week. However, I will be publishing a couple more reviews from LAST weeks books in the next couple of days.

Hope everyone is having a great new comic book day :)

Daredevil End of Days #1 Review

I have never read any of Brian Michael Bendis' and Davis Macks' work on Daredevil before so wasn't too sure what to expect from this even though I have heard great things about their past work with the character. This book alone, which is issue #1 in an 8 issue limited series, has single handedly made me want to pick up trades of their older stuff.

The cover of this book says it all. Daredevil is dead. He got killed by Bullseye in what looks to have been an epic street fight from what the first few pages of the book show. So we know how he got killed, but we do not know why. Finding this out has fallen on Ben Urich's shoulders. The disillusioned reporter is originally assigned to write the story on Daredevil's death, however he discovers that there are a lot more questions that need to be answered concerning Matt Murdock and the Man Without Fear in the run up to his untimely death.

This is fantastically written, which is to be expected considering the writers involved. One of the personal high points for me has to be the retelling of DD's back story through an article Urich is compiling. It makes the book completely new reader friendly, meaning it can double as a jumping on point for readers who want to get into the ongoing daredevil title. The internal dialogue going through in Ulrich's head is also tremendous. Especially when he is auto correcting himself when typing up the article. Ulrich himself is also fantastically written. A man who has fallen out of love with the industry he works in, failing to see a point in carrying on doing what he is good at. The art is gritty. Hell's Kitchen looks just as it should, dirty and grimy. The tone for the book is perfect. However, I read this elsewhere but I cant help but agree, I got half way through the book before realising that it was Bullseye who murdered Matt Murdock. In all fairness I think the real detail in that scene was given to Daredevil's injuries, as well as the fight that was giving him those injuries. Nevertheless, I hope there arnt many more gripes like this in the rest of the issues.

I have tried not to give too many spoilers away in this review. Obviously we know that Matt has died, however the events before that are best read without spoilers to get maximum enjoyment out of this fantastic first issue. Pick this book up, it has potential to be a very special limited series.

Rating: 9/10

Detective Comics #13 Review

I am going to be honest from the start here. I have read maybe two detective comics issues at the most in the New 52, and did not like them whatsoever. I found the story a bit overcomplicated, however I think I chose a bad time to attempt to jump on board with it. The book now has a new creative team consisting of Layman and Fabok starting with this issue so I decided to give it another go, hoping I would like it.

Luckily for me I really enjoyed this issue, and I'm hoping for more of the same from these guys. The story focuses around the Penguin who has hired a group of assassins called the "Ghost Dragons" to assassinate Bruce Wayne. This is in order to stop him from attending the opening of the new Martha Wayne children's wing at Neville community centre, so Penguin can have it named after his own family instead. During the night of the ceremony, Batman is away on the other side of the city tackling crimes that have been started by The Penguin's cronies. These have been set up to keep him out of the way of the planned assassination. Batman soon figures this out so leaves Nightwing to deal with the criminals so he can attend the ceremony. We then see the Penguin convincing the head of the community centre to name the ward after the Cobblepots, which he agrees to do out of fear. The Penguin then attempts to call off the hit on Bruce as he was late arriving for the opening anyway due to his Batman duties. However, the Ghost Dragons do not accept failure and seem to like to finish off their jobs...

I think this is a really solid first issue from the new creative team and sets up what looks to be an interesting story arc. Yes, the Ghost Dragons will end up to be no match for Batman, but I am keen to see the inevitable confrontation with The Penguin. Only complaint about this issue is that I'm not too sure about The Penguins' motivations yet ( doing this so people will respect him out of love and not fear) seems pretty odd.. However I see this arc as probably just being used as a jumping on point for people like me who failed to jump on at other points. The back up story, which was also written by Layman, was very interesting and fun. This focused solely on a couple of The Penguins henchmen doing their bit in setting up the operation. It did a great job of showing the individual character traits of both men in such a small space of time, which is obviously pretty hard to do.

Faboks' art was brilliant throughout the book, from the cover to the last page, and I am looking forward to seeing him draw more on this book. There is one panel in particular which shows The Penguin threatening the head of the centre to change the name of the ward, which emphasises the fear on the guys face to perfection.  This has started off as a promising new start for detective comics, from an exciting creative partnership. I encourage anyone to pick it up, even if you have not read any detective up to this point in time.

Rating:  8/10

New Blogger

Hi guys, I am new to blogging ( and reviewing ) but fancied giving it a try. In this blog you will mainly find comics reviews, sprinkled with some movie and tv show reviews too. I hope you enjoy it, and any feedback is greatly appreciated.