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Giant-Size Graphic Breakdown: DC Knocks It Out of The Park!

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s cold out there but things are really heating up over at DC Comics and their Rebirth line!

Let’s review some comics!

Deathstroke #12 
Written by Christopher Priest
Breakdowns by Larry Hama
Illustrated by Joe Bennett

Deathstroke keeps on trucking as one of the most adventurous, thrilling books month in and month out.

This issue is a hell of a journey from start to finish and I just love it. Everything just works here. It’s really spectacular.

What happens when the World’s Deadliest Assassin begins to go blind? A bold new tale begins here!

After the Red Lion breaks Deathstroke out of prison, he maneuvers Slade into a deadly encounter with the enigmatic thief known as the Raptor.

The Raptor isn’t my favorite villain but Priest handles his story well well. In fact, I will say Priest is the best writer DC has writing for them right now. His story shines again and shines brightly.

The art by Bennett is good too. He works off the breakdowns by Larry Hama perfectly and this is a great comic book. Thumbs up, again.

RATING: A

 

All Star Batman # 7 
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Tula Lotay

I didn’t enjoy this issue as much as I had the previous one.

Of course, the previous issue had Jock illustrating the book. This issue has Tula Lotay illustrating and it isn’t terrible, yet it feels terribly like a fill in issue.

Step aside, gentlemen—Poison Ivy is about to steal the spotlight in Batman’s continuing rogues gallery road trip.

Lotay is actually a very good artist but the work here just isn’t that exciting again.

Likewise, Snyder writes well but I get the sense that writing Poison Ivy isn’t really his forte.

Still, it’s not terrible and the backup is pretty good.

Let’s hope the next issue picks up again!

RATING: B

 

Titans #8 
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Brett Booth

This issue was awesome!

Not only were we treated to the return of the energetic art of Brett Booth, we get a hell of a story to boot!

Abnett has been really kicking it on this title and the “Made in Manhattan” storyline here gets a good first issue.

As Wally West and the Titans adjust to their new lives in New York City and investigate a mysterious new threat, Karen and Mal Duncan visit Meta Solutions to discuss their future.

But the meeting takes an unexpected turn when Mal delivers a shocking revelation, and Karen is faced with a difficult choice.

Abnett writes a really good story here. The art is thrilling. The whole thing is pretty thrilling.

Pick this up. It’s getting good over here.

RATING: A

 

Suicide Squad #11
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by John Romita Jr. and Eddy Barrows

Well, thank god. Finally we get a really fantastic issue of Suicide Squad. This issue just takes off from the get go in the first storyline and doesn’t let up.

It’s also seemingly got a tie to Watchmen and that storyline seems to be heating up.

Spinning directly out of the events of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad! Hidden somewhere deep within, the world is a burning flame. Its light is blinding. Its heat is deadly. It’s a fire fueled by hatred, by rage and by vengeance.

Used, abused and left for dead, the greatest foe the Suicide Squad has ever faced returns, more powerful than ever, to burn down the world Amanda Waller has given everything to protect.

The first story is all action and is just awesome. The art by Romita Jr. is good there.  The second (with excellent art by Barrows) is a shocker and just is awesome. Jim Lee off the title may be for the best. Rob Williams shows he can actually write well here and I’m glad to see it. Let’s keep this up too!

RATING: A

 

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #7   
Written by Julie and Shawna Benson
Illustrated by Claire Roe

This has been a fairly consistent book for the line. Not extraordinary by any means but still really good.

The Bensons are decent comic book writers and they keep the story flowing at a steady clip.

The new Oracle is now embedded in the Birds of Prey’s lives…and they’re going to have to make it work whether they like it or not!

Plus, Huntress has decided to make Gotham her permanent home—but that means venturing into the most dangerous world of all…the Gotham City real-estate market!

Perhaps an abandoned amusement park with a murder slide is up her alley?

The art by Claire Roe is good as well. The whole package is pretty decent overall. It’s been a nice read month in and month out. Give it a chance.

RATING: B

 

Detective Comics # 950   
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Marcio Takara

Detective Comics has been quite good these last few issues. This one is as well. It’s really taking off going into 2017. Tynion is doing much better with the writing and he is a solid creator.

This issue is the “League of Shadows” prologue. Celebrate 950 issues of the original Batman series with this extra-sized extravaganza!

Cassandra Cain has stayed out of the spotlight on Batman’s team as she slowly comes to terms with the civilized world she was kept away from all her life…but the time for her to step up is fast approaching!

Will she ever learn how to fit in among the masses, or will she always be more weapon than woman? Plus: a primer on the history of the League of Assassins, and an adventure with the team’s newest recruit: Azrael, the Avenging Angel!

There is a last story in this by Tynion and Eddy Barrows (he’s on this too!)  it’s the best part of the book.

The last line is quite awesome. It’s one of the best last lines of a book I’ve read in awhile and sets up so much. It’s going to be a hell of a year it looks like.

RATING: A-

 

The Flash # 16
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico

Man, this book is damn awesome too. I like the story but they should have no fill ins anymore…they should literally let Carmine Di Giandomenico illustrate every story. Because he has the Flash down.

And it’s damn beautiful how he is drawn.

Dragged on a wild goose chase all over the world, The Flash tracks the Rogues to their next target: the people of Central City!

But is even Barry Allen fast enough to solve five diabolical crimes at the same time?

This book is also well written by Williamson. There seems to be tighter focus on the book and the story ahead. I really am enjoying what I’m seeing. Let’s hope it continues!

RATING: A-

 

Red Hood and the Outlaws #7 
Written by Scott Lobdell
Illustrated by Mirko Colak
Breakdowns by Tom Derenick

This is probably the best Bizarro story I have ever read.

Lobdell really has written a fantastic script on this book and it shows. The story is funny, and a bit emotional as well. I loved every second of it and hope every issue can be this good.

Now that Black Mask is defeated, Artemis continues her quest for the Bow of Ra—a weapon of immense power. Meanwhile, Jason is dealing with an immense power of his own—Bizarro. What’s to be done about such a volatile creature…and is he too dangerous to be kept alive?

The art is perfect for this issue as well and I love every panel, every moment. This is a great issue and it stands alone quite well. I recommend picking it up. That last image of the book is a keeper as well.

RATING: A-

And the rest….

Earth 2 Society #21   
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Vicente Cifuentes
This is not a book I normally follow. Except I have been here. The story is fairly decent and the art is very good. I keep saying it: I may have to pick up this book from the beginning.
RATING: B

Gotham Academy: Second Semester #6 
Written by Brenden Fletcher and Becky Cloonan and Karl Kerschl
Illustrated by Adam Archer and Msassyk
This book is okay. It started off kind of cute and then devolved into something that is just okay. Still, the art isn’t half bad and it still has some charms. B minus!
RATING: B-

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #14
Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by Rafa Sandoval Jordi Tarrogona
This book needs a reboot. Still, the art by Sandoval is great. He can stay. I just feel we are so far away from what I love in Green Lantern that it’s hard for me to read without wincing.
RATING: C

New Superman #8 
Written by Gene Luen Yang
Illustrated by Billy Tan
Man, what a difference an artist makes. Billy Tan has brought a hell of a vibrancy to this book. He makes Yang’s story really stand out. This has turned into a great book. Pick it up.
RATING: B+

The Lost Boys #5 
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Scott Godlewski
The art is very good on this and the story is just okay. This could have been a ton of fun. Instead it’s just ehhh. The best part of this book however is the cover by Tony Harris. So it gets a B Minus because of it.
RATING: B-

Scooby-Doo Where Are You? #78   
Written by Robbie Bush
Illustrated by Scott Neely
A fun book! Just a nice time and a nice fun family read. Read this with your kids. Because they will remember it one day.
RATING: A-

Scooby: Apocalypse #10 
Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. Dematteis
Illustrated by Chris Batista
Why is this still a thing? I can’t follow the book at all! It’s the Apocalypse all right..for comic books. Read at your own risk!!
RATING: F

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