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Graphic Breakdown: ‘Milk Wars’ Concludes, ‘Motherlands’ Intrigues, ‘The Terrifics’ Debut & More!’

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

It’s the end of February!

Let’s talk about some comics that came out this week!

 

Detective Comics #975
Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Alvaro Martinez

This is an anniversary issue that doesn’t feel like an anniversary issue.

I’ve said it before here in this column that I think Tynion is running on fumes at this point.

This story concerning Batwoman doesn’t help his case much.

This issue is called “The Trial Of Batwoman.”

In it, Batwoman’s membership in the Bat-family is being called into question. Batman is questioning it. But Red Robin is defending her.

Will Batman let her stay in the family?

Find out here! The story is just okay. It doesn’t move as much as I would have liked.

The art is good. I wish there was more to it than that. Sadly, that’s all that there really is.

RATING: B-

 

The Flash #41
Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Neil Googe

Things are heating up over at The Flash!

Joshua Williamson really is just doing a bang up job. We are heading towards the Flash Wars, ladies and gentlemen. Let the fun times begin!

The Flash is in a bind!

He has lost something really close to him. He doesn’t know how to get it back! He only can do one thing: he has to call in Wally West in to help him! This leads to a big conflict: Will Barry cross a line he hasn’t before?

The story is fast and exciting! The art is decent as well. I can’t wait to see where this is going!

Keep it up Flash team! You’re doing a great job!

RATING: A-

 

Suicide Squad #36
Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by Eduardo Pansica

Rob Williams continues to write Suicide Squad with a dose of wackiness. I enjoy it enough but I always feel like the character development is lacking. I don’t care about any of these people. I still enjoy it but I think it could be more.

This is part two of the storyline where the Suicide Squad face off against the villain, Hack!

Hack wants to destroy the team and will stop at nothing to make that happen!

Meanwhile, The Wall shows up and wants to be the newest hero.

It’s nuts. But I still enjoy it. The art is pretty decent in this issue to counterpoint the nuttiness. I have no idea where this book is going and I don’t have a reason to care.

Right now?

I just sit back, enjoy it for what it is, and then move on.

RATING: B-

 

Batman Beyond #17
Written by Dan Jurgens
Illustrated by Phil Hester

I have to say I am quite enjoying this Dan Jurgens/Phil Hester creative team. They are two creators I never thought would be together on a comic book, but they work wonderfully together.

This is part four of the storyline “The Long Goodbye.”

Batman has been defeated by the Stalker. Now he is being handed over to a mysterious enemy. He finally finds out who has been pulling the strings but what happens now?

The story is really good. I love what Jurgens is doing here. The art is surprisingly fitting. I never would have thought Hester for art duties on this title and now I want nothing but him on it forever.

Pick this up. It’s pretty damn good overall.

RATING: B+

 

Gotham City Garage #10
Written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelley
Illustrated by Aneke

This title certainly is far out there. But that’s okay as it’s also well thought out.

Lanzing and Kelley work well as the writers of this and its certainly some high quality and top notch stuff.

In this issue we meet the founder of the Gotham City Garage!

It’s Black Canary! But where the hell has she been these last five years?

Also, what is in the caves of Ra’s Al Ghul?

Find out here!

This is a compelling book. The art is pretty damn good here as well. Pick this up. You won’t believe how much you like it.

That’s a promise.

RATING: B

 

Doom Patrol/Justice League of America #1
Written by Gerard Way and Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Various

This is the finale to the “Milk Wars” storyline.

It’s quite an ending too. This whole storyline was just plain weird, but I loved it and I wish it were longer. That’s always a good thing!

The RetCo corporation is falling apart!

The Young Animal teams come together with the Justice League and other DC universe superheroes to finish up the job.

Milkman Man stands in their way. Can they defeat him?

And what do they unleash if they do so?

The story is terrifically bonkers. It’s been a fun time overall.

It will have some ramifications in the Young Animal universe and I can’t wait to see what happens from here. Well done.

RATING: A-

 

The Ruff and Reddy Show #5
Written by Howard Chaykin 
Illustrated by Mac Rey

This book just continues to be incredibly entertaining.

The always reliable Howard Chaykin writes this and he does an amazing job.

The story is smart but never insulting and he just draws the reader in.

Ruff and Reddy find themselves in quite a pickle. They are overwhelmed in a series of television pilots. But they have made a bad decision and now it is haunting them.

Can they get out of this predicament and survive?

Mac Rey is a great artist. He does a good job of telling Chaykin’s story and making it shine. Give this a chance. It’s a great book that is certainly underrated.

RATING: B+

 

Imaginary Friends #4
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Stephen Molnar

This book is just okay for me.

Tim Seeley has done some decent things in the past but this isn’t him at the top of his game.

Ah well, you can’t win them all.

Melba is in trouble. She’s been taken down to the barn by the Fraidy Cat and things aren’t looking good.

Can she get out of trouble?

Will the fiends win?

Can Melba get out of it?

It isn’t as compelling as one would hope. You read it and it feels like it could be better. The art is very good. Molnar is great and deserves more.

Hopefully this picks up. Right now it’s kind of dull.

RATING: C

 

Raven: Daughter of Darkness #2
Written by Marv Wolfman
Illustrated by Pop Mhan

Having Marv Wolfman writing a comic book is such a treat. He’s such a solid writer and he is still at the top of his game here! I hope DC Comics has him write more titles after this.

Trigon attacks Raven!

Raven has to defend herself against the odds. Baron Winters predicts that Raven will die!

Can the Night Force help her?

Or will she suffer the ultimate fate?

The story is very exciting and very strong. The art by Pop Mhan is fantastic. He draws a perfect Raven and Trigon and I felt like a kid again reading this. Pick it up. It’s a good comic!

RATING: B+

 

Teen Titans #17
Written by Benjamin Percy 
Illustrated by Ott Schmidt

I am sort of sad this book hasn’t gotten any better. It never just seems to take off and it seems a little trite. Maybe it’ll pick up. I hope it does soon.

This is the aftermath of the “Super Sons Of Tomorrow” storyline.

The Teen Titans have lost their home!

Then, a bunch of strange murders have taken place in the San Francisco area.

The Titans have decided to find the parties responsible.

It sounds compelling but it’s not. The art is the best part. Otto Schmidt is a pretty damn good artist. I would love to see him with a good story behind him. Maybe it’ll happen soon.

RATING: C+

 

Motherlands #2
Written by Simon Spurrier
Illustrated by Stephen Byrne

This is a book that is very intriguing.

Simon Spurrier is a strong writer and this book seems to be getting really cool. There seems to be a clear vision and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Tab and her mother haven’t seen each other in years.

Now they have to work together to capture the biggest villain in the multiverse. But they end up in one hell of a disgusting place. They then realize that they aren’t the only bounty hunters on the case.

The story is great. The art by Stephen Byrne is the best of his career. They are creating one hell of a unique book. Pick this up. It’s quite excellent.

RATING: A-

 

The Terrifics #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Illustrated by Ivan Reis

This book is a nice surprise.

Jeff Lemire is one of the best creators in comics. I’ll pick up anything he does. This is a spin off from DC’s Metal.

While that book has been less than stellar, this is fairly decent.

Lemire takes a bunch of misfits and makes them work well together. Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl find themselves bonded over together after a crazy accident.

They are trying to return home.

But can they do it?

And what does Tom Strong have to do with it all?

The story is very well thought out as usual from Lemire.

The art is strong as well. Reis works well with the script and makes a visually interesting book. Pick it up. Let’s see where it goes.

RATING: B

 

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