Red Team #1 Review

I did not know much about this series when I bought this issue apart from it being written by Garth Ennis, and it being a #1 issue this month. I also kind of knew that it followed a special team of cops, which is something that really appeals to me as I do not read enough books like this that are purely in the crime genre. After reading this issue I can say for sure that this is a series that I am going to be keeping my eyes on in the future, and will be picking it up whenever it comes out.

I have read reviews of this issue that have slated it due to it being very wordy. This is something that I have absolutely no problem with. I think that a book a lot less wordy would feel like it was skimming on the details, and I do not think the full story of these complicated events would come across half as well. I would much rather read a comic book that forces me to concentrate than read through a book in less than 10 minutes.

I am still not too familiar with the characters, but after reading just one issue I am starting to see a couple of the teams personalities coming through. I think Ennis has intentionally made two of them come out in this issue more so than the other two members. I am sure that we will be learning more about the other two members in the next issue; which is completely fine by me.
Ennis has also set down foundations for some of the supporting cast in this first issue. There is one particular character, who is a leader of a similar team to this group we are following, that I am very excited to see more of in the future. He came across in this issue as a complete asshole; so he is my kind of guy!

It is very hard to judge a series from just one issue, but I have really got a good feeling about this book. Ennis has set up a really intriguing series that I am eager to follow. If you are fans of the tv shows "The Wire" or "The Shield" then I suggest you read this first issue and make your own mind up. It is a 3.99 book but I feel that you really get your moneys worth due to the amount of content in it. You will need to put aside a good 20 minutes to get through this and to get a good feel for it; however I can guarantee that if you are into this sort of thing then it will be a 20 minutes really well spent.

Rating: 9 / 10

Superior Spider Man #1 Review

So, it is finaslly here..the new Spider Man status quo for the forseeable future. Doc Ock is Peter Parker, and Peter died in the body of his greatest nemesis. I really could not wait for this to be released. I had to wait until today ( Saturday ) to pick this up so I have been avoiding spoilers around it all week. Was I dissapointed after reading it, or did it live up to my very high expectations?

This issue is a strange one. I got half ay through and I wasnt too sure if I liked it at all. Even at the end when there was a big reveal; I was still slightly unsure. It was only after sitting around thinking about it that I realised that I enjoyed this issue very much. One of the reasons for me being totally unsure at first, is the fact that this new Spider Man is a complete ass. I thought after the last issue that maybe Doc Ock was going to become a real hero; but that is not what we got. It was only after finishing that I realised that this is the whole point.
We as readers are never supposed to like Doc Ock; in fact we are supposed to dislike him a lot. Some of his actions as Spider Man in this issue will anger long time fans; but remember they are supposed too. There is also a scene with MJ that was really creepy. He only wants one thing from MJ, and I think we all know what that is.

What I did really enjoy was how he defeated the Sinister Six. It was in a very Doc Ock way, but you can't help but applaud the ideas that he came up with. This new SS in this issue did not look too danger ous at all, however their purpose was to only show how our Spider Man behaves in battle.

I can't review this issue withut mentioning the massive reveal at the end. A reveal that showed that maybe our long time hero has not gone away completely after all. It makes sense to progress with the story in this way, and his role in this issue also made sense to me.

Lastly, I just want to briefly mention Ryan Stegmans' art. It is a style that I am not overly familiar with, so I was not enjoying the first battle with the Sinister Six at all. However, the normal everyday scenes did look beautiful, and by the time the final battle came I was really enjoying what I was seeing. Peter also looked very confident and slimy throughout, which really showed just who he was now. He was nearly unrecognisable to the Peter that we are used to seeing.

This series still intrigues me alot. This issue was all setup so it is hard to judge just how this series will go. To me though, all the key componenets are here to make this a great title. Saying that, it is going to be a frustrating read at times due to the charcter inside Parkers' head. I do think readers need to remember though that we are supposed to get annoyed reading this. That is the whole point, and it also shows just how great a writer Slott really is.


Rating: 8 / 10

Punisher Nightmare #1 Review

I was very excited when I heard about this book coming out. As some of you may know, Frank Castle is one of my favorite comic characters of all time. I love everything to do with him, yet I will still try to be unbiased in my review of this latest mini series. So, lets jump right into things.

First things first, this book is extremely wordy. I for one, really enjoyed this aspect of the book; but I am aware that it will not be for everyone.  Throughout the issue Frank's internal dialogue dominates, yet we also get blog posts on pages from the new character, Johnny. It will take you a while to get through this issue, which I think ensures that you get your moneys worth. I think the writing throughout is excellent, and I love how strategical Frank seems to be in this series. He also has a bit of a conscience, which is something I also really liked.

The story in general is something that I really like, and it is something that I think is pretty unique. Yes, it has started off slightly similar to Rucka's ongoing series that has just finished; but I do not think that that is a bad point. I am also pretty sure it will go in a different direction; which I am very intrigued about. I am sure in the next 4 weeks we will learn a ton more about Johnny. In this issue we learned quite a bit about his past, now I think it's time to see how he will react to this situation that he is in.

I have briefly touched on Frank's personality already, but something I really liked was how awkward he seems to be with normal human beings. He is fine talking to / beating up bad guys because he needs something from them, and it is his world after all. However, there is a scene in a diner where a little girl approaches him just to say hello. He has no idea how to react, and starts mumbling about random things. I loved that panel because for me it really showed how out of touch he is with other human beings, and how uncomfortable he is in situations like that.

Overall, this is a really solid start to this mini series. However, as stated, I believe your enjoyment of this book will depend on how you like your comic books. If you like wordy ones, then this series looks like it will definitely be for you. The writing is superb, and the art is awesome for the most part (except for a couple of dodgy panels). I can't wait for next week's issue, I just want to know more!


Rating: 8 / 10

Comeback #1 Review

A new Image mini series hit the comic book stands this week. At the minute any new mini series by Image is pretty much a major success, so it is very wise to pick up the first issue of any new mini series just in case it is going to be another hit. Which is looking more likely than not.
Anyway, this first issue of "Comeback" focuses on a company called Reconnect, who specialise in going back in time and saving loved ones of their clients from death and bringing them into the future which they were previously not apart of. It is an idea that is very unique, and I can say with some certainty that is a topic that I have never read about before.

The story kicks off showing us a job that two agents of the company are carrying out. It all seems to be going well, until the man dies when he is being transported into the future. We later learn that he had a tumour which the family had not told Reconnect about.
In this issue we also learn a little about the two main agents in the company, who both seem like really interesting characters. We have Mark who you can tell really believes in the company, and believes that he is making a difference in peoples lives. On the other hand you have his partner Seth who seems to be having some problems which have not come out in the open yet. Their partnership has piqued my interest already after one issue, and I am eager to learn what secrets Seth is keeping from his partner and his boss. It cant be anything good that's for sure.
We also are introduced to another individual who works for the company, however it is unclear what part he plays exactly. The last panel shows that he is likely a pretty corrupt employee who may possibly be linked to a darker side of Reconnect. The company obviously provide a great service for people who have recently lost loved ones, however there really does seem to be a dark undertone to them which I am sure will be explored more in other issues. This side may also be something that Mark and Seth are currently unaware of, seeing as they both seem to be pretty decent guys. Or at least that is what we are meant to believe so far.

This first issue of the series has left us with a couple of questions leading in to the next issue. It has definitely done enough to make me want to know more about the company and the people working for it, so I will be picking up the next issue for sure. It is worth a read, so if you fancy something a bit different this month then go ahead and give this one a try.


Rating: 8.5 / 10

Indestructible Hulk #1 Review

I have been wanting a Hulk ongoing series to really get my teeth into for a while now. I enjoyed Jason Aarons' run on the title, but it just wasn't the type of Hulk book I was looking for. With Marvel NOW, Mark Waid is attempting to write the book that the fans need. He has worked wonders on Daredevil, so can he do the same with The Hulk.

This issue is more of a set up issue for the series, much like the new Iron Man book, and it really looks as though this may be a series to keep your eyes on. Bruce Banner has come to realise that he has been wasting his intelligence, so he is learning to control the green monster inside him. He knows that when he is focused he can create things that can help and save the world, that is his new goal. However, he wants SHIELD to fund his research, and in return they have The Hulk at their disposal when needed.

I really like this concept and think Waid is going the right way about writing this book. In this issue I really enjoyed the scene in the diner between Hill and Bruce Banner. I thought the tempo was perfect, and the conversation flowed really well. It didn't feel like things were being spelt out for the reader, so I was happy with it.

I also really enjoyed the fight scene with The Thinker. Yeah it was simple and he was never going to be much of a match for The Hulk, but it was nice to see, and it was what the story needed in this particular issue. The art also looked stunning in this scene. However, I found a couple of panels during the fight slightly confusing. I think that may be down to the colours. Let me stress though, I found only a COUPLE of  panels confusing. The art as a whole was fantastic, even in the Diner scene. It is setting a tone, along with Waid's writing that I think suits this book perfectly. I am eagerly anticipating the new issue. You should check this out even if you are not a fan of the main character, because its Mark Waid. That should be reason enough considering the form he is in at the minute.


Rating: 8.5 / 10

Excitement for series: 9 / 10

Iron Man #1 Review

I picked this up eagerly anticipating a change of pace from the Matt Fraction run on "Invincible Iron Man". I was a fan of the Fraction run but I missed a few issues and got behind; never really catching up. Therefore I missed out on what seems to have been a lot of Iron Man goodness. This was my chance to get back into it, and I think I may be in for the long haul.

This particular issue is pretty much a set up issue for the first arc. Not only that but it also goes some way into describing what kind of a person Tony Stark is, which is: egotistical , arrogant; all the reasons we love him basically. So this book was pretty new reader friendly. Which makes sense considering the third instalment of the film franchise is just round the corner.

Putting all these factors together, I thought that this was a really enjoyable first issue. I love the fact that Extremis is back, and I look forward to the Enhanciles that Mr Stark will be battling against in forthcoming issues. One of my only gripes with it is that I am not really too keen on how Tony looks. I cant put my finger on it, but it may be the Robert Downey Jr effect. I don't know.

With all the positives mentioned, I still find this issue pretty hard to rate. It is a great set up issue, but it was a pretty thin read with not a great deal really happening. Saying that, I did think it had a good pace to it though compared to the slow burn of Fraction. You can tell this book is going to be full of action, and that is what is bringing me back for the next issue. Yes the issue was good; but it was not amazing. However, it has got me invested in the series  for future issues, which is what the first issue should be doing right?
If you have any interest in Iron Man then I recommend you give this a go. If you were a massive fan of Fraction, then give it a miss.


Issue Rating: 7.5 / 10

Excitement for future issues: 8 / 10

Bedlam #1 Review

The feeling I got from reading this book was the same I got after first reading Saga #1. That is how good this book is,and how high my expectations are for future issues. If you are a horror fan of any kind then this is definitely for you.

The books starts off as we see some of the actions of a character called Madder Red. He is pretty much the joker. However, he may be even more twisted than Gotham City's biggest villain. The story then shifts to present day as we see Fillmore Press, a man who seems like he probably used to be Madder Red, going through everyday life. The way the book shifts back and to is absolutely superb.
The dialogue from both Red and Fillmore Press is gripping stuff. I found myself totally immersed in what they were saying. I am not saying what they had to say was sane in any way, because trust me, it wasn't. What it was was though was intriguing, and it led to some scenes that were just downright creepy.

Now lets talk about the art. If the art was any different to what it is, then this book would not work nearly half as well as it does. Riley Rossmo knocks it out of the park. It has a kind of scratchy effect, which when I first saw the preview I actually was not too sure whether I liked it. However, after reading the first couple of pages you soon realise that Rossmo is the perfect artist for this job.

It may be too soon to say that this series is going to be a massive hit. However, the main characters in this book are written so well, it is difficult to see how this book can fail. Also bear in mind that this is written by none other than Nick Spencer (Morning Glories), and we are pretty much onto a winner with this title. 


Rating 10/10

This is my first ever 10/10 rating on this blog. That shows just how much I loved this book. Pick it up!

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