That Good Of A Guy

Nightwing #129
Written by Marv Wolfman
Art by Jamal Igle and Keith Champagne

This was a pretty good issue. I enjoted. Despite the cover, Nightwing never comes into contact with the new villains, Bride and Groom, but we do see what is happening with them. They have kidnapped some women for some reason. Not sure why, it is not explained. Otherwise, this is a nice day in the life kind of issue. We really get into Dick's head. He even goes back to Gotham for Bruce's party. It is nice to see the Dick hasn't forgotten his roots. Wolfman loves to write Dick's thoughts and you could tell in this issue and unlike other people, he doesn't overdo it. It is just right. I especially liked the part where Dick thinks about how he tends to get too close to the people he helps, unlike Batman. I think that is an interesting observation by Wolfman, almost all writers have portrayed Nightwing taking an active interest in the lives of the people he save and such. Dick is just that good of a guy.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #43
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Tony Daniel and Jonathan Glapion

Man, I just love you Geoff Johns. You are the best! This issue single-handedly restored my faith in DC. Batgirl is fixed! Cassandra Cain went rogue because she was being drugged, not on her own free will (if she did, it would be totally out of character). PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! I am so happy lol. I did a happy dance after reading this issue. Now even ignoring the whole Batgirl thing, this issue was still amazing. It was filled with action and so many great moments. Johns introduces us to the new Titans East with a bam. Everyone of them is interesting. Kid Crusader, Match, Risk, Sun Girl, Batgirl, Riddler's Daughter, and Intertia, Joker's Daughter. I am dying to find out more about this team and their kickass new headquarters. Oh and the art was damn near perfect. This arc is well-worth they hype so far.

Superman: An Angel of God?

Superman #659
Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza
Art by Carlos Pacheco, Peter Vale, and Jesus Merino

This was a nice little inspirational story about an old woman who believed Superman was an angel because everytime she prayed for help Superman would be there. I think this was a wonderful issue. It really showed how this can be both a good thing - Superman inspiring people, but at the same time it is dangerous because he isn't an angel, just a man. He can't be everywhere at once. I really enjoyed this issue. It was very nice. Especially since these days we don't get many one-shot Superman stories so this was a nice breather. The woman reminded me a lot of my own grandmother and her unwaivering faith. What I was wondering was the creature he was fighting in Antartica one of the Appalexians? This could could easily be set during the time of the founding of the JLA. That would be a nice use of continuity if it is.

Batman 661 - 663

Batman #661
Written by John Ostrander
Art by Tom Mandrake

While not much happens in this issue; it is just one big fight scene in the gotham opera house- it was still a good fight and pretty cool. Grotesk really lives up to his name. He is gross. Decent issue.


Batman #662
Written by John Ostrander
Art by Tom Mandrake

This issue was a lot better than the last. This concludes the Grotesk arc and I think it concluded this dark story pretty well. Grotesk is now frozen and his sister dead. He really was a psycho and I really can't sympathize with him as I did before. Especially now since he killed his own sister. This was fine fill-in arc. I enjoyed it.

Batman #663
Written by Written by Grant Morrison
Art by John Van Fleet

I really don't hate this issue as much as everyone else does, but I definitely hate it. I mean when I buy a comic, all I ask for at the bare minimum is word balloons and panels. This was a story book. If I wanted to buy a story book I would have, but I didn't. I think that is how most people felt about Morrison writing a novella in the disguise of a comic. Story-wise it wasn't bad but it would have been so much better in comic form with non-digital art. I don't know what Grant was thinking. It was nice to see Harley Quinn again and everything and I liked Grant' explanation of Joker's personalities but it is hard to get past the fact that this isn't a comic. This was a failed experiment by DC. I hope this never is done again.

Catwoman 63 and 64

Catwoman (Volume 3) #63
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez

Catwoman goes to The Calculator in order to clear Holly's name. I understand her reasoning for not going to Oracle, I mean Batman would be pissed if he found out Selina killed a man. It was fun to see the Calculator basically trick those guys into going after Catwoman. He knew that they would fail. Catwoman's reputation proceeds her. I still wonder who is going to be Catwoman now. Is Selina officially the full time Catwoman again? I don't know. Anyways, it looks like the Cat is heading to Metropolis.


Catwoman (Volume 3) #64
Written by Will Pfeifer
Art by David Lopez and Alvaro Lopez

I would highly reccomend this issue. It was really good. I loved the beginning, the middle, and end. This is how an issue of Catwoman should be. A nice heist issue with some twists. The idea that Lex lives deep below Luthor Tower is really cool and smart. I wonder if that is where he has been when they show him in Action Comics. Selina really shines this issue. Shows why she is one of the world's greatest thieves. To be honest, I wish she did more thieving than heroing. It is all more fun. Meanwhile, Holly is also being Catwoman back in Gotham and is probably going to get herself in a big mess. Hammer and Sickle are going to come after her for sure. I have no idea what that apparition of the other Catwoman in Lex's lair was and Selina's guesses are good as mine. I enjoyed this issue a lot.

Brave And The Bold Reviews

Issues:

#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6

Manhunter 27 and 28

Manhunter #27
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

Okay I did not see the shock ending of this issue coming, even with it being given away on the cover. Ted Kord can not be still alive? Could he? This has to be a hoax of some sort. Maybe it is Bruce in disguise. I don't know, what I do know is this was a great issue. Full of courtroom drama you would expect in a book about a superhero lawyer. And Wonder Woman hasn't been drawn this good in a long time.

Manhunter #28
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Javier Pina and Robin Riggs

This is all really intense. First Ted Kord has appeared and says he was alive and well and has no memory of the last 18 months. Wonder Woman's lasso seems to think he is telling the truth and Batman is doing a blood test on him. (Why didn't they think of just taking off his mask?) Then Sasha sends Manhunter the real video of Maxwell Lord's death. This is all really important for the DCU and its sad that more people aren't reading this. I don't know whos to blame for this series's cancellation but the whole thing is sad. Andreko's a great writer and I hope he gets put on something high profile at DC soon. (Like um...Wonder Woman)

JLA Classified 33 and 34

JLA Classified #33
Written by Dan Slott and Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Trevor Scott

So in this reality, that the Red King has created, he is doing extremely well at being a hero and is eventually asked to join the justice league. This was a fun issue and as always I am in love with Plas, I really wish he was still on the team. I think someone should buy this just because of the plas moments. Especially when he starts talking about Aquaman's harpoon. That was awesome.

JLA Classified #34
Written by Dan Slott and Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Jerry Ordway

This issue was pretty damn cool. Basically it starts out exactly the same as last issue, except this time the Red King isn't a hero but a villain in this reality and he has caused the earth to completely blow up in something like 90 hours. It was awesome to see how the JLA evacuates earth, not just of people, but cities and animals and water and plants. The coolest thing ever was Green Lantern transporting the oceans to mars through his energy. I bet Slott and Jurgens had a lot of fun writing this. Batman also is pissed as hell, while everone else is being saved, Bruce is making sure the Red King faces justice.

Blue Beetle 10 and 11

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #10
Written by Keith Giffen and John Rogers
Art and Cover by Cully Hamner

Well, Blue Beetle and Brenda have been sucked away to the worlds of the new gods. I think they are on New Genesis and not Apokalips, which is cool we do not get to see New Genesis as often. This issue was still not as exiting as I thought it would be and I think it is because I am not a fan of Hamner's art at all. I don't know.

Blue Beetle (Volume 6) #11
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque

Alright! This was a much better issue than the last. The art is so much better and I am glad that this Rafael is the new regular artist! We still do not know about the scarab despite Blue Beetle trying to get that information out of Metron. Metron is a character that I am really interested in now. I love how he just flies around in a chair. Very cool. There were a lot of funny moments this issue. Especially this one comment Jaime makes about Lonar's sentence structure. I enjoyed this issue quite a bit. Reccomended.

A Little Anti-Climactic

JSA Classified #22
Written by Walter Simonson
Art and cover by Simonson

I must say that even though Hawkman was a long time member of the JSA and will be again in the near future, this was the most un-JSA issue of JSA Classified. There was not even a mention of the Justice Society in this issue. I am not complaing; just making an observation. This was a decent issue. Nothing really to write home about. Hawkman of course defeats Blackfire in the end and re-unites with Hawkgirl in the end. Their re-uniting after a year of being apart was a little anti-climactic and not nearly as emotional as one would think. In fact, it wasn't emotional at all. Hawkgirl was a little mad that Hawkman did not let her know why he hadn't returned to earth yet. I guess I can understand her point but I mean come on...he can't just send her a letter he was across the freaking galaxy for gods sake.

Green Lantern Corps 7 and 8

Green Lantern Corps #7
Written by Keith Champagne
Art by Patrick Gleason and Prentis Rollins

This was a pretty cool issue. The idea of an undercover unit of the Green Lantern Corps is fascinating and of course anything that has to do with the Dominators has to be good. I hate those things so much that they really bring emotion into any story I read with them in it. This series is pretty violent and has some pretty provocative stuff in it. Especially when Guys says, I think my nipples just got hard. I laughed out loud at that.

Green Lantern Corps #8
Written by Keith Champagne
Art by Patrick Gleason and Prentis Rollins

This issue was really quite gross. Lots of blood and guts and people getting ripped apart. Not really a comic book for the kiddies (not that I am complaining). I liked this issue. I hope that Guy and the butterfly girl aren't really dead, I am sure they are not. That can't be right? I do hope that the villain gets his ass handed to him next issue. I really don't like this evolved dominator guy. Champagne is a good writer and artist. A rare talent in comics. I hope that he stays around for a while and maybe get his own series to write.

Who Is The Ventriloquist?

Detective Comics #827
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Don Kramer and Wayne Faucher

This issue marks the debut of the all-new ventriloquist and I hope she stays around for a long time to come. Dini continues his line of great one-shot stories of Batman too with this issue. So far Dini has not failed me and I do not suspect he ever will. Kramer's art is fantastic and almost perfect for Detective Comics. Although Morison's Batman run is getting more attention, this is the better of the two series. The new ventriloquist, Sugar, still has scarface but she is still very different from Arnold Wesker. She is confident and more violent. She is not so much afraid of scarface as Wesker was. Albeit, I suppose she is just as nuts as he was. I hope she sticks around. It is hinted that we are supposed to know her from somewhere, or at least Batman is. I wonder wonder who she truly is.

Uh....What?!

Robin #158
Written by Adam Beechen
Art by Frazer Irving

Wow! This story could have been good, it I wasn't distracted by the weirdest art I have seen in a long time. Irving barely even draws backgrounds or anything, Gotham City is apparently just a big orange light in Irving's eyes. I really really really really did not like the art this issue. It really takes away from the enjoyment of the story and the story isn't that strong to begin with. I liked that Klarion and Robin have struck up a sorta friendship but that was about it. I am glad this arc is over and we can get to some more Robin action. Oh and maybe some normal art. Robin has been really good since Beechen took over (minus the Cassandra Cain thing) but this arc was not his best, and I think the art made it a lot worse. Hopefully next month things will start looking up.

Checkmate 9 and 10

Checkmate (Volume 2) #9
Written by Greg Rucka
Art and Cover by Jesus Saiz

This series is brutal and can be incredibly confusing, but it sure is good. Especially this issue, which unexpectedly guest starred the Shadowpact (Who I love). I love how the Checkmate is really no-holds-barred and they do things the JLA or any superhero team wouldn't be caught dead doing. I am not sure why Sarge Steel and Sasha are so pissed at eachother this issue, but they are at odds through the whole thing. The introduction of the Thinker to the cast is a great move by Rucka, I like the character already even though I am barely familiar with him.

Checkmate (Volume 2) #10
Written by Greg Rucka
Art and Cover by Jesus Saiz

The pulled it off! They got a mole into Kobra! I was worried through the whole issue. This was certainly suspenseful and hats off to Rucka for creating that suspense. I really liked this issue. Maybe it was the magic I don't know, but it was really cool. Both Shadowpact and Checkmate kicked ass this issue and there was a lot of tension and surprise. The only thing I am worried about is did Sasha say that the Thinker could not be the White King's bishop? That would suck if he got kicked out just as I was starting to like him. Anyways, great issue. Highly reccomended.

A Meeting Between Father And Son

Justice Society of America #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Art Thibert

This issue was just as great as the first! So hats off to Geoff Johns for hitting another one out of the park! I really enjoyed this issue. The art is fantastic and the moments between the characters were great. Starman is interesting, even though I haven't read Kingdom Come in years and barely remember it. It is amazing how each of Geoff's books have totally different feels to it. You really can not say that about most writers. I think one of the best parts about this issue was the moments between Wildcat and his newly discovered son. I absolutely loved how it wasn't the typical long lost son meets his father moment. Wildcat's son makes it clear he could care less that his father wasn't around as a kid and he completely understands why. That is awesome! It was so afraid it was going to be the classic why were you not around, I hate you type thing.

Bring Back The Martian Manhunter

Justice League of America #5
Written by Brad Meltzer
Art by Ed Benes and Sandra Hope

Wow, after five issues they finally left the cave and this story is moving forward. It was about freaking time! Now, I hope to god that Meltzer doesn't plan on killing Kathy Sutton. First because they would be too predictable and second we already did the whole Sue thing, we don't need another dead wife. You almost feel bad for Amazo in that one panel when he is crying, but then when he says he is going to hurt Kathy that sympathy goes away. The line-up of what will be the league (they still haven't officially formed) still seems really strange to me especially without Martian Manhuner. J'onn is the heart and soul of the league and I really miss him being a member. Hopefully Meltzer will realize this during his run and bring him back. But for some reason I don't see that happening. This was an okay issue, I still hate the confusing text boxes in this series but oh well.

The Flash 7 and 8

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #7 Written by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo
Art by Ron Adrian and Rob Lea

This is the penultimate issue of Bilson and Demeo's run and it looks like they are just getting good when they have to leave. That is sad but it's how the comic business works. Anyways, this is a good issue and stuff. Bart moving to L.A. seems like a good idea, for now, but I hope he will return to Keystone City eventually because well, that is where the Flash belongs.

The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #8
Written by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo
Art by Ron Adrian and Art Thibert

The writing team may have started out horribly, but they are going out greatly. This was the best issue of the series to date. It was full of action and yet managed to move the character forward as well. It looks like the new writers will be continuing the Inertia storyline as well as they sort of set that up at the end of this issue. I am starting to get used to Bart as the Flash, finally. I love Wally but he will be back some day. I think it is time to let Bart ride the lightning.

The Double Chin Lex

Superman Confidential #3
Written by Darwyn Cooke
Art and cover by Tim Sale

This was a good issue, mostly because it is cool to see how Lex is so suspicious of Superman. Tim Sale draws Lex pretty fat, in fact he has a double chin in this issue. It kinda made me laugh. It was funny to see Lex get mad when Superman crashed his benefit party, but you can kind of sympathize with Lex in that scene. I mean it was about Lex and then Superman just shows up and steals all his thunder. Sick Kid's Fun Day seems like a pretty uninspired name though, I think Cooke could have come up with better. It is kind of a negative title for a benefit for Sick Children. I am not sure what Gallo is doing at the end of this issue and I am not sure if I dig the whole sentient Kryptonite idea, but this issue was still good. The moment where Superman is talking with the polar boy because he is so lonely was very nice. I liked that a lot.

Barbara Vs. Lois

Birds of Prey #102
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott and Doug Hazlewood

Now this was a good issue. Lots of action and tension, it really keeps you at the edge of your seat. Misfit is a fun character and I hope she stays around for a while. The only thing that kinda bothered me about this issue is doesn't Lois know that Barbara Gordon is Oracle? Didn't her husband tell her? Does Superman even know? That just confused me and got me thinking. And why was Babs acting like Lois would take her down. Shouldn't she know that Lois is a good person and won't take down heroes just for a good story? I mean she has never revealed her husband is Superman, why would she reveal Barbara is Oracle? These are some interesting questions. I really am enjoying Nicola Scott's art, he draws beautiful women but not in a sleazy way. We still do not know much about Judomaster, I would like to hear more about her. Oh and it was great to see Gypsy hasn't been forgotten about. This issue really shows how much of an asset she is the birds. Oh and this issue also showed how badass and crazy Manhunter is. Highly reccomended.

Legion 25 and 26

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #25
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Barry Kitson and Mick Gray

This was a good issue that focused on...well...a lot of stuff. The Wanderers seem interesting and you can already tell they are not exactly villains. Supergirl's fight with Mon-El was pretty standard, nothing too exciting there but there was a lot of other stuff going on. I look forward to next issue.

Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #26
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Barry Kitson and Mick Gray

Now this issue was kick ass and a lot of fun. We learn the secret origins of Light Lass and Lightning Lad, along with their older brother. Waid comes up with a pretty interesting origin, I don't know if it was the same in the old legion or not but it is pretty cool. My favorite part of this issue must be when Mon-El and Supergirl talk about the fact that they will meet when Supergirl returns to the 21st century. I imagine this will happen in the upcoming Action Comics Annual. That was a nice use of continuity. I really enjoyed this issue and the ending was crazy. Nice cliffhanger.