Animal Man #16 Review

Jeff Lemire has really been writing some quality comic books during this Animal Man run of his. The Rotworld story arc has been going on for what seems like forever, which is not a bad thing, but we are now coming near the end. This is what I guess is the penultimate issue for Rotworld in Animal Man, and it really is full steam ahead for the finale next month.

I mentioned in a previous review that I wished it would take them a while to get to Arcane's base, but in reality it was just a turn of the page. You would think that this would annoy me but it did not at all due to what had come before that in this issue.
We had a beautifully looking battle in Metropolis which I think was pretty much filler in this issue, but if you read AM, then you know that even the filler is way above average when Lemire is on form. We also learned more about the scale that Rotworld was on, as well as just how powerful it is. Of course we knew it was powerful, but when the Guardians cant even stop it, you know you are really in trouble.

The highlight of this issue had to be the other plot in this book; which is of course was Maxine before Rotworld had started. I was really enjoying how she had to grow up and take responsibility for who she was destined to be in previous issues, but with this issue the rug really was pulled right from under our feet. Something happened here that I was really not expecting, but it also makes sense considering the effect that Rotworld has had on Earth. In fact, thinking about it, I am surprised that I never saw something like this coming. I am just hoping that Lemire can somehow make everything better, but with the tone of this book something tells me that I may be wishing for something that will not happen. Happy endings are never guaranteed with Animal Man.

This issue was mainly build up for the final battle next issue; which happens to include some familiar faces on the opposition side. However, that is not to say that this was a bad issue, in fact it was a very good issue. Some plot points came together which helped to make sense of what has happened on the planet.
Rotworld has been such an epic event, that may have gone on just slightly too long, but with the end in sight now I am just very pumped to see how this will all end.

Rating: 8.3 / 10

Yes 8.3. I think I am going to break out into these type of ratings from now on.

Punisher Nightmare #2 Review

Once again with this issue, this mini has got some very mixed reviews. You are either going to love or hate this title; I for one like it a lot. Yeah, I know I am a big Punisher fan, but this issue hardly focuses on Frank at all. What we get with this issue is more background information on the other character in this series; Jake. We learn just what happened to him when he was in the US army, as well as what him and Frank have been up to since they left the hospital.

Like the first issue, a lot of what goes on in this issue is internal; meaning there are alot of boxes filled with speech. I, for one, was not bothered by this in the slightest. It is a pretty wordy comic book, but I just really enjoy it.
The guy who wrote this series is some kind of producer on "The Walking Dead", and I think you can certainly tell he is from a TV background. The story is not linear in the slightest, and can be slightly confusing if you are not too interested in what is happening. However, I think it shows just what well written comic books can achieve. This may be suited best as being some kind of mini TV show, but I still think it comes over amazingly well in comic book form.

The books internal monologues and flashbacks focus entirely on Jake this month. It was clear to me from quite early on in this issue what exactly had happened to him, but it was still cool to see it all come together at the end. It was like some kind of TV episode, but as I mentioned earlier I think it worked extremely well. We now know why Jake has some kind of mad side to him, which before this issue I did not think for one moment that it was going to be anything like the reveal that we saw here.
It is very easy to feel sorry for Jake and everything he has gone through, however it looks to me like we might not be feeling sorry for him anymore. The man seems to be losing his mind, but it is not entirely his fault. It is going to be interesting to see just how Frank deals with him in the coming weeks.

This is the second Punisher book of the week and just like the first I really enjoyed this one. It is a wordy book but it is a very solid story; so for me you cant really go wrong here. I dont understand why some people dont like wordy comic books. Of course if they are written crap then that can't be helped, but I really think that more people need to give this book a chance. There are three more issues left and I can't wait to get my hands on #3 next week.

Rating: 8 / 10

Colder #3 Review

The previous two issue of this mini series were tremendous. I think #1 was better than #2, but they were both awesome regardless. However, there was a big theme in the previous installments of leaving the reader with more questions than answers come the end of the books. It was frustrating me after the last issue that even though I was enjoying the ride; I did feel slightly lost. This issue, however, finally gives us some answers that we have been waiting for. We finally found out what Nimble Jack is, as well as what Declan has powers to do. Everything is starting to come together beautifully.

Nimble Jack. Oh, Nimble Jack. I called after #1 that this character was terrifying and reminded me slightly of Heath Ledger's Joker; well I was not too far off at all. This series is already very popular, and I can really see Nimble Jack becoming some kind of cult hero in the near future. The way he finished off a countdown near the start of the book just showed how horrifying he can be.

Once again, the other world looked stunning. In fact, this book as a whole looks absolutely fantastic. There are some panels that you just can not help but stare at. This series is the first time I have seen any of this artists work, but I will definitely be looking out for it in the future.

In this issue it has also become clear that Declan is in love with Reece. I assume there will be some kind of happy ending in two issues time, which I am looking forward to. I really don't think I could take a sad ending, which it could so easily do with this series. However, I think it will push me over the edge. After three issues I am massively invested in these characters, and I hope they come out the other side of this sane and normal.
Speaking of Reece; the last two pages of this book could have come straight out of a horror film. The art for hem was outstanding, and the tension in the car really jumped off the page. There is one panel where the desperation on Declans' face is so well drawn he looks like a real person.

I thought issue #2 of this series had taken its foot off the pedal slightly after an amazing #1. However, after reading this I can confirm that we are firmly back on track with this mini series. I am sure we will be given more answers in the near future to some questions, but things are starting to fall into place at last. If you guys want to read a horror book then look no further than this.


Rating: 9 / 10

Thor God Of Thunder #4 Review

Jason Aaron has been building an absolute epic with his Thor series so far. The first three isues have been tremndous, and I am very pleased to say that this one is exactly the same. Throughout the issue we jump between all three different Thor's, but not once does it feel confusing. It has kept the formula that it had with previous issues, and it is still just as fresh and exciting now. This is just an amazing book that I feel is running slightly under the radar with some people.

Before this issue the old Thor was my least favorite version out of the three. He probably still is now to be fair, but I think this issue really made the distance between him and other two virtually nothing. In fact after the first few pages when I realized it was jumping between them again, I was slightly disappointed as I was eager to see what was going to happen with Thor from the future.

One of the best things about this issue was the introduction of Shadrak. He was the God in the cave at the end of issue #3. What we find out in this issue is that he is kind of like a Dobbie (Harry Potter) kind of character, or he seems that way to me. A couple of things he said did make me laugh, or maybe that was unintentional. Regardless, the way he is drawn in this issue is just out of this world. There is one panel in particular that I looked at for some time in quite a bit of detail due to just how amazing it was.

The first time we see the past Thor in this scene is when he is involved in quite a chilling scene in the cave with the God butcher. Some of the things he says are pretty dark to say the least when he is threatening Thor with torture. It made me imagine the scene in some kind of horror film, and let me tell you, it would be pretty terrifying.

The ending of this issue confused me a bit to start with. I am not too sure how what has happened has actually happened, but of course that will all become evident when the next issue is with us. This is just a fantastic series, and it is one that I highly recommend you pick the back issues up for if you have not been reading it. Jason Aaron is producing some of his finest work with this; it is unmissable. A fine example of why I think Marvel NOW has been such a success; Jason Aaron writing the God of Thunder.

Rating: 8.5 / 10

The Walking Dead #106 Review

In #105 we were left wondering what was going to happen to Carl in this coming issue. At the end of this issue it is still not much clearer,  but you feel like you have learned a lot more about some of the minor characters current frame of minds; which surround the deal with Negan that the group had to make. This is an issue full of dialogue, but if you have been reading TWD for a while, then you know that this is not a bad thing at all.

Due to a lot of the recent focus being on Carl and Negan, it was nice to go back and see the others in the camp. There seems to be a bit of uncertainty about what to do at the minute, especially with Eric who seems desperate to leave with his partner.
It is also becoming more apparent that maybe it was not Rick's plan to send Carl into Negan's lair; which is something that I thought was a major possibility until this issue. It is clear just how stressed this whole situation has made him, as he and a team seem to be going out everyday to try to find his son. What I thought was really realistic about this was the way that Rick was behaving. He was not shouting and screaming erratically, which he would of done when he first found out that his son was missing. However, this seems to be a few days after so he seems a lot more focused on the task at hand, as well as seeming like he is thinking clearly.

There was also a hint of a tease in this issue of Spencer possibly becoming a bad guy within the group. This is something that I first thought might happen once Andrea starting to see Rick. This could be a really interesting development which I believe would benefit from a really slow burn build up. I guess we will have to wait and see.

The end of this issue saw Rick and the gang on their way to Negan's place, and happening to bump into the man himself on the way there. There were a few words exchanged along with a cliffhanger of a last page which makes me think really bad thoughts. I am hoping what was said was just a bluff, but with Negan you can never be sure.

This was yet another very solid installment in this monster of a series. It was also Charlie Adlards' 100th issue on art duties, and as usual he did not disappoint. His art style is unbelievably unique, and the thought of anyone else drawing this book just seems ridiculous.


Rating: 9 / 10

Punisher War Zone #3 Review

Greg Rucka Continues his mini series focusing on the aftermath of the events that happened in the recently cancelled ongoing Punisher series. He was made to write this character. Add that opinion of mine to the fact that the Punisher is one of my all time favourite characters, and I think it is quite obvious what I though of this book. That does sound kind of biased, but I think my opinion on this is going to be one that most people share after reading this issue.

The issue starts off like the previous issue. Instead of Natasha running round after Frank, it is Thor this time. This takes up about half of the issue, and I was getting kind of worried as to where the heel this series as a whole may be going. It turns out I had nothing to worry about as it all became clear in the second half of this very issue.
What we saw was a great conversation between Frank and Thor. I say conversation, but it was really more like a lecture from Thor. He could not really grasp what the point was anymore for Frank, and he also informed him that he is leaving collatrral damage in his wake that was surely never his intention.
What I really liked about this scene was how silent Frank was throughout it. Hr drank beer and never argued once against the points that Thor was making. I thought this showed a great deal of respect that Frank has for the God. Of course, Thor is more powerful than him so he probably couldnt do much anyway, but I definietly think that the silence was largely due to respect. Frank has never been too worried about consequences, but you get the feeling that maybe this time he may do what is right and turn himself in. But that is not the way he operates really is it?

Overall, I really really enjoyed this issue. It all felt very samey at first, but then it really blossomed into something very nicely done during the Thor and Frank heart to heart. Running in the background of all of this was the court case for Cole-Alves. The last page also shows that next issue may be make or break time for Frank regarding this case. I really cant wait for the next installment in this mini as it is poised absolutely beautifully. Will Frank finally face up to his actions? Certainly #4 is a must read.


Rating: 8.5 / 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