Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!
Here are my reviews for the DC Rebirth books this week!
Batgirl #7
Written by Hope Larson
Illustrated by Chris Wildgoose
This is a step in the right direction with some really great artwork by Wildgoose. It’s more in the Babs Tarr mode…and it almost makes you wish Tarr were still around on this title.
This is the storyline “Son of Penguin” Part One!
Babs is back in Burnside! But everything’s…different—
Batgirl must determine her next steps when she realizes that the shady new tech mogul moving into her neighborhood is none other than the estranged son of the Penguin!
Larson does a really great job on the writing on this one. She’s found a groove and it’s working.
And Wildgoose again provides some incredible artwork.
I quite enjoyed this book, and looking forward to the future installments of this story arc.
RATING: B
Batman Beyond #4
Written by Dan Jurgens
Illustrated by Pete Woods
It’s another wacky day here at Batman Beyond!
Dan Jurgens was made to write this book and he has a ball on it. The Joker storyline is pretty great and a great start to a new book.
The deadly secret behind the newly risen Joker is revealed, and it’s about to shake up Terry McGinnis’ world! Terminal has been using the existence of the Clown Prince of Crime to set himself up as the leader of the anarchic gang of Jokerz, but this new revelation may even put his own criminal empire in jeopardy.
This is a turning-point chapter in the life of the Batman of the future.
Pete Woods does a decent job on art on this book. It’s very nice, very fluid. All in all it’s a good comic book this week.
Pick it up and be entertained!
RATING: B
Deathstroke #11
Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz
How do you make the best comic book on the stands even better?
Well, you fill this issue with guest art from Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz! The story is already compelling enough…these two push it over the edge.
Jack Ryder, a.k.a. the Creeper, investigates a series of murders in Chicago…and comes face to face with Deathstroke, the World’s Deadliest Assassin.
This book is fantastic.
And this particular issue may be a classic. Priest writes one hell of a story about gun violence in America and it hits home hard.
In years to come, we may look at this issue as something that really means something in the history of Comics.
RATING: A
Detective Comics #949
Written by James Tynion IV and Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Ben Oliver
This is a nicely done two-parter. The second half is just as decent as the first. The writers explore the characters fairly deeply and the whole thing is just nice.
This special two-part interlude spotlights team leader Batwoman!
In the wake of the “Night of the Monster Men,” A.R.G.U.S. has built a secret research city around the corpse of the megamonster that collapsed in Gotham Harbor…creating Gotham City’s newest and most dangerous neighborhood, Monstertown!
The writing by Tynion and Bennett is strong and the art is excellent by Oliver.
Oliver is one of those artists who doesn’t get enough work and it’s good to see him excel here. Pick up this two parter. It’s quite decent.
RATING: B+
Doom Patrol #4
Written by Gerard Way
Illustrated by Nick Derington
The Young Animal line rages on with this book!
It’s a very well done and very strange book overall. And you can’t help but love it. It’s super cool.
Everything is getting stranger and stranger for Casey Brinke.
The secrets she’s learned about her true origin do a little to explain the bizarre new surroundings she finds herself in, but not why she’s attracting the members of Doom Patrol like so many flies.
Also, find out the secret ingredient that makes Danny Burgers so delicious!
The story by Way is wonderful and the wacky art by Derington is superb.
Give this a look if you haven’t. It’s one of the more original books coming out right now.
RATING: A
Frostbite #5
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander
Frostbite‘s penultimate issue is here! And boy has this been a good ride! I really enjoy the comic and the twists and turns it has taken!
I can’t wait to read the full story in its entirety!
Keaton and Vic are coming to the end of the road…but it’s not the end they had planned.
Their destination was Alcatraz, but when Keaton’s darkest secret is revealed by her worst enemy, the deadly crime boss El Fuego, she’ll find herself left out in the cold.
Williamson is a heck of a good writer and here he really shines. The art is pretty spiffy as well.
All in all, another good issue. One more to go.
And I can’t wait.
RATING: A-
The Flash #15
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico
This title sure has picked up! Another great story here where the Flash fights his rogues gallery. It’s fast, exciting, and well done.
That’s the way the Flash should be.
Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Golden Glider, Weather Wizard and Heat Wave are back! In part two of this epic heist story, The Flash travels overseas to stop the Rogues from committing the greatest caper of all time!
But not everything is as it seems in this international game of cat-and-mouse as the Rogues spring a trap on the unsuspecting hero.
The art is just unbelievable on this. It really amps up the story in a way you would not believe. It’s inventive, and I dare say it’s even genius.
This title is back on solid ground and I’m glad to see it…it certainly deserves to be so!
RATING: B+
Kamandi Challenge #1
Written by Dan Abnett and Dan Didio
Illustrated by Keith Giffen and Dale Eaglesham
This book brings Kamandi back to the center stage.
I’ve never been a huge fan of the character…In fact I don’t believe I ever read a story of his I actually enjoyed.
Until now. This is some truly great comic book work.
Born from the mind of Jack “King” Kirby, the post apocalyptic Earth of Kamandi has been a fan favorite for decades, and now 14 intrepid teams of writers and artists build on this incredible foundation and take the title character on an epic quest to find his long-lost parents and travel to places seen and unseen in the DC Universe.
Each issue will end with an unimaginable cliffhanger, and it’s up to the next creative team to resolve it before creating their own.
It’s a challenge worthy of “The King” himself!
In this premiere issue, the Last Boy on Earth is dragged from his safe haven by a group of tigers, only to face the nightmarish threat of the ultimate weapon!
This is epically awesome. An unbelievably well-done beginning to the comic book series. And I have no idea where it is going. This is something That I can’t wait to see what happens. It’s sure to be damn exciting.
RATING: A
And the rest…
Teen Titans #4
Written by Benjamin Percy
Illustrated by Khoi Pham
The art is this book is pretty spectacular and it makes the simple story easier to digest. Not a bad book overall but not too challenging. Decent.
RATING: B-
Six Pack and Dog Welder #6
Written by Garth Ennis
Illustrated by Russ Braun
This book is pretty funny and had a lot going for it. I enjoyed it. And then the emotional ending happened. And I just fell in love with it completely as a story. Well done.
RATING: A
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #13
Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by V. Ken Marion
This title needs to be retired. It’s going nowhere. Remember when Green Lantern used to be one of DC’s flagship titles? We need that again.
RATING: C
Future Quest #9
Written by Jeff Parker
Illustrated by Ron Randall
This issue is another entertaining one in the series. You can’t help but love it. It’s been good from the start and it really brings back the nostalgic part of your life…while bringing us someplace new.
RATING: B+
Scooby-Doo Team Up #22
Written by Sholley Fisch
Illustrated by Dave Alvarez
A joyously happy issue! Fisch is really the right person to be writing this title. I can’t get enough of it. I feel like a five year old reading these…and my daughter enjoys them as well. You can’t ask for more!
RATING: B+
Suicide Squad #10
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by Giuseppe Cafaro
The crossover between the JLA and the Suicide Squad continues in this book. It’s been a pretty decent crossover yet not much happens in this issue. Still it’s not terrible, and it’s worth picking up if you want the full scope of things.
RATING: B
