Well, these Quick Shot Reviews should wrap up the reviews for this week. I believe I got them all, or at least everything I picked up. Enjoy the reviews and check back tomorrow for the Moments of the Week!
ATOMIC ROBO #4
Written by Brian Clevinger
Art by Scott Wegener
Stephen Hawking is a bastard. That's all you need to know about this issue. For those that require a little more detail, Atomic Robo is the funniest and most entertaining comics currently on the market. This issue continued his adventure with the Egyptian pyramids that may or may not be filled with robot mummies. Robo blows up the pyramid, along with himself and it leads to an entertaining flashback detailing a manned (robotted?) mission to Mars by Robo as a favour to Nasa. Turns out Stephen Hawking doesn't like Robo and is, in fact, a bastard. Good times were had by all. There's a 2 or 3 page backup story that features Thomas Edison's men trying to assassinate Robo, the Dr Tesla creation, that was excellent as well. Look for Robo in the Moments of the Week tomorrow.
Verdict - Must Read
BOOSTER GOLD #6
Written by Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz
Art by Dan Jurgens
There's no Skeets in this issue, so that makes this at least 60% less entertaining than when he and Booster are together. On top of that, there's a lot of exposition and recap segments where we are given updates on who the Blue Beetles are, who Ted Kord was, how he died, what he did when he was alive, what his favourite colour was and even found out how they get the caramilk into the caramilk bar. To say we weren't beat over the head with mountains of word balloons and text boxes is an understatement.
When we weren't being bombarded with words, this issue found time to retell events from OMAC and Infinite Crisis before finally getting down to the nitty gritty of saving Ted Kord. I think a lot of people let the fact that Ted's death was retconned cloud the fact this is a rather poorly constructed issue. You shouldn't have to sit through all that text and pointless fighting just to see a retcon. Where's the fun and hilarious exchanges between Booster and Skeets that made me love this series? Yes, it's great to see Ted back, but I doubt he'll stick around if Rip has anything to say about it. That retcon is the only saving grace for this issue and there's nothing else present that I found remotely noteworthy from this issue.
Verdict - Check It
CATWOMAN #75
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez
Well, this wasn't nearly as painful as I had expected it to be. It's a Salvation Run tie-in and I think you'd definitely need to be reading that series in order to understand this one. So, if you aren't reading that, this might be a good time to drop this book.
As this is a forced tie-in, Pfeifer spends a lot of time recapping things as best he can. After getting caught up, Catwoman spends the rest of the issue jumping from group to group, giving the reader yet another introduction to all the major players in this crossover while Catwoman manages to piss off everyone except Lex Luthor. By the end of the issue, she's back with Lex's group, where Lex has Catwoman break into a secret underground facility he found. Inside, Catwoman and Cheetah end up turning on a machine that apparently teleports Catwoman to another Earth where Batman is going to shoot her for killing Black Mask. This could also be all in her head or some kind of computer simulation or what have you.
This could have been much, much worse than it turned out. In fact, it actually ended up fairly enjoyable. It's still a significant dip in quality of story the Catwoman book, which I don't blame on Pfeifer. The book is usually a Must Read for me, but it could go either way for me right now. I don't mind reading it, but I wouldn't miss it if I dropped it either. Hopefully she gets back to Earth soon.
Verdict - Check It
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #17
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and Alan Burnett
Art by Ed Benes, Jon Boy Meyer and Sandra Hope
What the hell? I hadn't read the solicit of this when I posted it with my previews earlier this week. When a book ends on what appears to be a cliff hanger reveal of the Tangent Flash being trapped in our universe, I just assume we'll get a follow up on that this month. Apparently that story is over and I missed the boat or something.
In its place this month, we get a Countdown tie-in. Not even a relatively eventful or noteworthy tie-in, but a retarded Salvation Run one. Joy. Black Lightning beats up some no name, Z-list villains. The Suicide Squad tries to round up some more losers. Bunch get away and go see the JLA to surrender in hopes they won't let them get sent away to the prison planet. That's it. Can I have my money back, please?
Verdict - Avoid It
ROBIN #170
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Chris Batista
Hmm, this was better than the Robin book has been in a while, but still not what I would call spectacular. It reads very much like a 'new writer just joined' issue with new characters showing up, a return to old supporting cast members and the whole bag of tricks.
However, it does show signs of promise. Dixon hints at Spoiler quite a bit and shows he has at least a basic understanding of how people felt about that character based on how he treats her, even having Robin questioning the no memorial in the Batcave and so on. He also has Tim do a double take on a girl at his school, thinking she's Spoiler based on how she walks and looks from a distance. I liked the character, so these minor things are a bigger deal to me than most I suppose. I hope this ties into Gotham Underground's new Spoiler.
Overall, a good start for Dixon and there's potential for this run. If you liked the character and weren't satisfied with the book since Beechan bastardized it, you might want to give this issue a go and see how it treats you.
Verdict - Check It
WWH AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #2
written by Greg Pak
Art by Leonard Kirk
I liked this issue and I didn't. Maybe it's more I want to really like this issue but keep finding small inconsistencies everywhere I look. When I can look past the million questions I get over every little thing, I really enjoyed this issue. I've liked all these characters ever since Planet Hulk and Pak does a great job with each character's voice and interactions with other characters. The backup with Miek was, much like last issue, the best part of this one. We got some excellent background information on Hiroim and I look forward to the next issue's story.
Verdict - Check It
Written by Brian Clevinger
Art by Scott Wegener
Stephen Hawking is a bastard. That's all you need to know about this issue. For those that require a little more detail, Atomic Robo is the funniest and most entertaining comics currently on the market. This issue continued his adventure with the Egyptian pyramids that may or may not be filled with robot mummies. Robo blows up the pyramid, along with himself and it leads to an entertaining flashback detailing a manned (robotted?) mission to Mars by Robo as a favour to Nasa. Turns out Stephen Hawking doesn't like Robo and is, in fact, a bastard. Good times were had by all. There's a 2 or 3 page backup story that features Thomas Edison's men trying to assassinate Robo, the Dr Tesla creation, that was excellent as well. Look for Robo in the Moments of the Week tomorrow.
Verdict - Must Read
BOOSTER GOLD #6
Written by Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz
Art by Dan Jurgens
There's no Skeets in this issue, so that makes this at least 60% less entertaining than when he and Booster are together. On top of that, there's a lot of exposition and recap segments where we are given updates on who the Blue Beetles are, who Ted Kord was, how he died, what he did when he was alive, what his favourite colour was and even found out how they get the caramilk into the caramilk bar. To say we weren't beat over the head with mountains of word balloons and text boxes is an understatement.
When we weren't being bombarded with words, this issue found time to retell events from OMAC and Infinite Crisis before finally getting down to the nitty gritty of saving Ted Kord. I think a lot of people let the fact that Ted's death was retconned cloud the fact this is a rather poorly constructed issue. You shouldn't have to sit through all that text and pointless fighting just to see a retcon. Where's the fun and hilarious exchanges between Booster and Skeets that made me love this series? Yes, it's great to see Ted back, but I doubt he'll stick around if Rip has anything to say about it. That retcon is the only saving grace for this issue and there's nothing else present that I found remotely noteworthy from this issue.
Verdict - Check It
CATWOMAN #75
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez & Alvaro Lopez
Well, this wasn't nearly as painful as I had expected it to be. It's a Salvation Run tie-in and I think you'd definitely need to be reading that series in order to understand this one. So, if you aren't reading that, this might be a good time to drop this book.
As this is a forced tie-in, Pfeifer spends a lot of time recapping things as best he can. After getting caught up, Catwoman spends the rest of the issue jumping from group to group, giving the reader yet another introduction to all the major players in this crossover while Catwoman manages to piss off everyone except Lex Luthor. By the end of the issue, she's back with Lex's group, where Lex has Catwoman break into a secret underground facility he found. Inside, Catwoman and Cheetah end up turning on a machine that apparently teleports Catwoman to another Earth where Batman is going to shoot her for killing Black Mask. This could also be all in her head or some kind of computer simulation or what have you.
This could have been much, much worse than it turned out. In fact, it actually ended up fairly enjoyable. It's still a significant dip in quality of story the Catwoman book, which I don't blame on Pfeifer. The book is usually a Must Read for me, but it could go either way for me right now. I don't mind reading it, but I wouldn't miss it if I dropped it either. Hopefully she gets back to Earth soon.
Verdict - Check It
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #17
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and Alan Burnett
Art by Ed Benes, Jon Boy Meyer and Sandra Hope
What the hell? I hadn't read the solicit of this when I posted it with my previews earlier this week. When a book ends on what appears to be a cliff hanger reveal of the Tangent Flash being trapped in our universe, I just assume we'll get a follow up on that this month. Apparently that story is over and I missed the boat or something.
In its place this month, we get a Countdown tie-in. Not even a relatively eventful or noteworthy tie-in, but a retarded Salvation Run one. Joy. Black Lightning beats up some no name, Z-list villains. The Suicide Squad tries to round up some more losers. Bunch get away and go see the JLA to surrender in hopes they won't let them get sent away to the prison planet. That's it. Can I have my money back, please?
Verdict - Avoid It
ROBIN #170
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Chris Batista
Hmm, this was better than the Robin book has been in a while, but still not what I would call spectacular. It reads very much like a 'new writer just joined' issue with new characters showing up, a return to old supporting cast members and the whole bag of tricks.
However, it does show signs of promise. Dixon hints at Spoiler quite a bit and shows he has at least a basic understanding of how people felt about that character based on how he treats her, even having Robin questioning the no memorial in the Batcave and so on. He also has Tim do a double take on a girl at his school, thinking she's Spoiler based on how she walks and looks from a distance. I liked the character, so these minor things are a bigger deal to me than most I suppose. I hope this ties into Gotham Underground's new Spoiler.
Overall, a good start for Dixon and there's potential for this run. If you liked the character and weren't satisfied with the book since Beechan bastardized it, you might want to give this issue a go and see how it treats you.
Verdict - Check It
WWH AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #2
written by Greg Pak
Art by Leonard Kirk
I liked this issue and I didn't. Maybe it's more I want to really like this issue but keep finding small inconsistencies everywhere I look. When I can look past the million questions I get over every little thing, I really enjoyed this issue. I've liked all these characters ever since Planet Hulk and Pak does a great job with each character's voice and interactions with other characters. The backup with Miek was, much like last issue, the best part of this one. We got some excellent background information on Hiroim and I look forward to the next issue's story.
Verdict - Check It
1 comments:
I'm so glad other people are digging Atomic Robo as much as I am. I think that shit is hilarious, and very impressively put together. Wegener is great on the art and the dialog is smooth and believable.
Props to you for propping righteously proppable propts.
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