Just checking in with the rest of this week's reviews. I added a couple more reviews late last night to yesterday's batch. So, if you missed those, make sure to check them out. When you're ready, hit the jump for the Quick Shot Reviews!
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #4Written by Judd Winick
Art by Cliff Chiang
By all accounts, I should hate this book. It has all the makings of a bad book, including some overly dramatic theatrics and poor characterization as well as basically aping a far superior story from Kevin Smith's run on Green Arrow.
However, I can't help but still enjoy this book. I like the characters and it's great seeing the Green Arrow family all back together in one book again. The opening bit with calling for help from Clark was a great scene, but, if you think about it too hard, it makes it seem like Superman is basically only listening for his close friends since he's not saving every single person that's calling for help around the world. So, while I like this book, I recognize it's a far cry from the greatest thing ever written.
Verdict - Check It.
NIGHTWING #140Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Rags Morales & Michael Bair
So begins the "new era of Nightwing" for about the 10th time in the past year. I only gave this a shot because of Tomasi and how impressive he has been on Black Adam. I'm not disappointed a gave this a shot, but I wasn't blown away either.
I feel Nightwing works best when he's off on his own and not stuck in the shadow of the bat. It's why when this book launched with the whole Bludhaven setting that this worked so well. It was his own place and his own life for a change. With Bludhaven destroyed by DiDio, it looks like Dick will be setting up shop in New York in yet another Wayne family owned estate, this time a castle. It's a bit contrived, but I'll let it slide.
Regarding the 'new era', it sure feels a lot like the old one, except slightly better written. We get obligatory Batman, Robin and Alfred cameos, the random ninja fight and even a Talia appearance. There are more than a few times that Tomasi is overly verbose and I feel like I'm reading a page of dialogue boxes. In the end, it's a good, solid opening, but has a lot of room for improvement.
Verdict - Check It
SALVATION RUN #3 (OF 7)Written by Bill Willingham
Art by Sean Chen & Walden Wong
This series was not written for me. I don't understand how people are enjoying it and I'm only sticking with it because a) I'm a comic fan and we buy crap so we can bitch about it and b) over at Wizard's website, they had an interview with DiDio stating this series will be very important in regards to Final Crisis. So, here I am, bitching and whining until the very end.
This issue's worth of fan fiction has Luthor barking orders, nobody caring that the super rich and pampered ex-president who has routinely screwed them all over is now bossing them around with the exception of the Joker. Speaking of Joker, he somehow convinces the super intelligent Gorilla Grodd to join him because neither one likes Luthor. Who cares if they all got captured in McDuffie's JLA story a couple months back, which lead to this vacaction on
Flash forward and, here, Grodd and Joker decide to mutiny and round up all the rejects from the group of villains and go off on their own. Well, first they needed a retarded fight to distract people from the terrible story. Again, why is Grodd going off with people like Joker, Kid Carnival, Two-Face and so on?
Finally, the surprising mid-way twist in this "story" is that the Martian Manhunter decided to tag along and keep tabs on all the villains. He also had to shapeshift in order to talk into a tape recorder. I am dying with anticipation to find out why he thought this was a good idea or felt the need to come to this planet or why he didn't just stay invisible the entire time and view them out of harms way.
Verdict - Avoid It
X-FACTOR #27Written by Peter David
Art by Scot Eaton
This was a better outing than the last chapter, but I still feel like they are holding back, as if they can't tell us the whole story yet because they need to pad out a few more chapters with 'decompressed' filler.
I loved the Madrox and Layla scenes here, but they felt like guest stars in their own book. Layla killed Madrox's dupe so that it would return the information about Bishop to the prime Madrox. Madrox wakes up and the M is still seared into his face. Not sure what happens with Layla, but she knows stuff and should show up again. Oh ya, the baby is evil and ends up killing a million flatscans based on what future Bishop says.
Meanwhile, the X-Men make their way to Muir Island to take down the Marauders. X-Force is leading the charge though and I can't see how they will defeat the Acolytes and Marauders along with Mystique, Gambit and Sunfire. Why is Sinister not mentioned? Well, Mystique killed him and is teaming up with Gambit to secure the baby or something. I'd love to see how she accomplished that feat since they had it all done off panel. Finding out why would be nice, too.
Verdict - Check It
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