Week of December 7th

Batwing # 4

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Judd Winick, Artist: Chriscross, Inker: Ryan Winn, Colorist: Brian Reber, Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual, Editor: Mike Marts

All-Star Summary for Choice: This is a fantastic series and this particular book is excellent for so many reasons. First, the art is spectacular. Second, we finally learn some serious details of who Batwing really is by getting a glimpse at his tragic and violent childhood. A scene that is really being played out all too often in troubled areas throughout Africa. Since this is a Batman related character, it only makes sense that he is driven by loss...but one of his unique qualities is that he is also driven by a desire for redemption. This issue shows you why.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “It takes a monster to stop a monster...and I am a monster.”

NOTE: Although this book doesn’t carry an explicit rating, I have found some issues to have graphic violence.

Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes # 2

Company: Boom Studios

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman, Artist: Gabriel Hardman, Colorist: Jordie Bellaire, Letterer: Ed Dukeshire, Editor: Dafna Pleban

All-Star Summary for Choice: I am a huge fan of the Planet of the Apes movies and television series and never imagined that I would enjoy a comic in this setting. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This book is part of a four issue limited series set 20 years before the arrival of Taylor (Charlton Heston). The art is not as clean as I usually prefer, but weird to say...it fits the book perfectly. The main characters of the story are victims of diabolical treachery and since those setting them up appear in the movies twenty years later, I’m absolutely fascinated by the shrinking possibilities of a favorable resolution for our heroes. We were used to humans in cages in the movies, so it was a treat to see a prison for apes in this book.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Ape does not kill ape. To do so is the very definition of insanity.”

Irredeemable # 32

Company: Boom Studios

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Mark Waid, Artist: Diego Barreto, Colorist: Nolan Woodard, Letterer: Ed Dukeshire, Editors: Matt Gagnon & Shannon Watters

All-Star Summary for Choice: Anyone not reading this book is missing out on something spectacular. I’m a huge fan of the “Superman archetype” going bad. I loved it when it was done with Marvel’s Hyperion, Image’s Supreme, Dark Horse’s Titan...I was just always fascinated by the thought of the world’s most powerful hero being the cause of all your problems, not a savior for them. This series takes that idea to another level. 

In this book we learn, after thirty-one issues of carnage and mayhem, the origin of the main character...the Plutonian. It isn’t what anyone expected, I’ll bet. It answers a lot of question, I’ll bet. I already bet earlier that when we learned these things, it wouldn’t bode well for anyone else in the story...and I certainly won that one! The artwork is just on the fringe of what I’ll subject my eyes to...but with a story this good, I’ll gladly make the exception.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “How did he gain control of the narrative?”

The Last of the Greats # 3

Company: Image Comics, Inc

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov, Artist: Brent Peeples, Colorists: Mat Lopes, Eddy Swan, Brian Buccellato & Blond, Inker: Nick Nix, Letterer: Troy Peteri, Editor: Rob Levin

All-Star Summary for Choice: Did I mention I’m a fan of the “Superman gone bad” type situations? Well, this series immerses itself in that idea with more twists than a package of Twizzlers. The Greats are a race of super beings that have been eradicated by mankind...all except the Last, who has absorbed the essence of his fallen species. I don’t want to tip anything off about this book so I’ll just leave this entry with the tagline of the inside cover: “Meet mankind’s last hope for survival. He’s called The Last, and he hates our guts.” Nuff said I think...check this book out.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Trust me, I know what I’m doing”

NOTE: This book has sexual themes and adult language.

Villains for Hire # 1

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Artist: Renato Arlem, Colorist: Jay David Ramos, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Bill Rosemann

All-Star Summary for Choice: The idea of this book is awesome. It has a “Mission Impossible” feel to it by the presentation, but with the exciting twist of all the people we’d normally look to for doing the impossible are villains...and everything their doing is a criminal act. So why did I find myself rooting for them? Because the writing and characterization is just that good that I actually care what these people are doing. This is the first book in a four issue limited series, so I’m excited that by the end of this issue, we find out the antagonist for our main characters are another set of villains...for hire! 

A new perspective is always interesting to me...and with the “Bank Job” presentation of this book, it’s also very refreshing.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Hello villain, are you for hire?”