Week of April 11th

Honorable Mention

Artifacts # 16 (Image)

   Rapture versus Angelus...all of them?!

Batman and Robin # 8 (DC Comics)

   Father and son reconcile after Robin crosses the line!

Green Lantern # 8 (DC Comics)

   Captured by the Indigo Tribe!

Legion Lost # 8 (DC Comics)

   It’s the Legion versus the Ravagers!

Secret # 1 (Image)

   Corporate espionage and murder...and that’s only the beginning!

Superboy # 8 (DC Comics)

   Superboy versus Grunge!

...and now for this weeks All-Stars!

Deathstroke #8

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Kyle Higgins, Artists: Eduardo Pansica, Inkers: Art Thibert,  Letterer: Travis Lanham, Colorist: Jason Wright, Editor: Brian Smith

All-Star Summary for Choice:

Deathstroke has always been one of my favorite characters, since the early days of the Teen Titans. I was excited when he first got his own book, and was equally jubilant when they launched him again in the “New 52.” It saddens me that this will be my last issue since I can’t stomach the artwork of the next regular artist, Rob Liefeld. I’m just glad my last issue was such a great one.

Deathstroke has always been a complex character and this issue just gives more insight into why. This is the first I’ve seen anything about his childhood and the story is both powerful and tragic. Every child should have a chance at happiness, but some just draw the bad cards of life...and grow up to be the best hired assassin in the business.

We’ve always known Slade’s motivation isn’t the money, but his desire to be the best. Well, now it’s more accurate to say his desire to always be better. As twisted as the relationship is with his father, the history of it actually serves to clarify the relationship between Slade and his own son. Deathstroke is a very complex character, and this issue enhances this, with a simplified look back.



All-Star Quote of the Book: “I assume that in calling yourself “Kill Switch”...you’ll at least make this interesting?”

Fantastic Four # 605

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Jonathan Hickman, Artist: Ron Garney, Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles, Colorist: Jason Keith, Editor: Tom Brevoort.

All-Star Summary for Choice:  I’m not a staunch Fantastic Four fan, but the latest writing from Hickman has me scouring the shelves for every issue that comes out. Just when I was thinking about how can they top the Celestia/ Galactus fight, they go in a totally different direction...that’s all too familiar to me.

Ben Grimm is going to live a very long time, a side effect to being turned into the Thing. Nathaniel and Reed Richards decide to spend some father and son time together, but instead of playing catch, they take a trip to the far future...and observe everyone’s ever-loving blue-eyed Thing!

This issue certainly had a “Time Machine” feel to it when looked at it from the point of view of the travelers...and a very “Bicentennial Man” feel when looked at from the perspective of the observed subject of study. I enjoyed both those movies, so it goes without saying that I absolutely loved this issue. Not “action-packed” although there is action, this issue exemplified how a great story can carry a book to greatness.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “It’s Clobberin Time!”

Grifter # 7 

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Nathan Edmondson, Artist: Daniel Sampere, Inker: Dave Beaty & Mark McKenna, Letterer: Wes Abbot, Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse, Editor: Brian Smith

All-Star Summary for Choice:  Ok...the artist has changed from last issue, but the artwork remains spectacular for this great confrontation between Grifter and his Daemonite-possessed brother, Max.

The action is over-the-top, and I think it’s what makes this book so exciting and fun to read. For example, a commercial jet is taken down....and everyone dies except Grifter, including his love interest...and the chase is on. The odds are more-than-any-man-can-handle to one, but this is how Grifter operates. Being able to hear the telepathy of the Daemonites only adds to the tension when he begins to hear the remnants of his brother Max....begging for death.

After a day of tremendous loss...what is Grifter left to do...? How about jumping off the Eiffel Tower, showering Daemonites with a hail of gunfire as he descends? Yup...crazy, over-the-top...and so much fun it should be a crime.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “The hell you can’t. Do it or I’ll have to watch him kill you.”

Ultimate Comics X-Men # 10 

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Nick Spencer, Artist: Paco Medina, Inkers: Juan Vlasco, Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino, Colorist: Christopher Sotomayor with Marte Gracia, Editor: Mark Paniccia.

All-Star Summary for Choice:  Let it be a testament to all the other books that have been All-Stars that this title has not made the cut until now...because this issue certainly qualifies as one of the most suspense building, misdirecting, and extreme cliffhanging books to come out in a while.

The mutants have been detained in camps, the worst being Camp Angel. Storm decides she’s had enough and her actions against the Sentinel guards touch off a riot. It’s no surprise that the mutants take over...it’s not surprising that many of them want to enact lethal justice after seizing power. It was a little surprising that the camp divided on the issue at exactly half of the population...with the exception of one very important vote.

This swing vote is critical, somewhat unexpected...and is the perfect setup for a cliffhanger that had me at the edge of my seat...because there is no way anybody is coming up from it unscathed. 

All-Star Quote of the Book: “No Storm...that is not my choice.”

Uncanny X-Men # 10

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Kieron Gillen, Artists: Carlos Pacheco & Paco Diaz, Inker: Cam Smith, Colorist: Guru eFX, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Nick Lowe.

All-Star Summary for Choice: Unit, an alien robot has escaped from S.WO.R.D. with a target painted on the backs of the X-Men. This is not unusual, many have had their sites painted on our favorite mutant team...but few could deliver. Believe me when I say, this is what sets Unit apart from all the rest.

The artwork is spectacular, very clear with clean lines and interesting angles. The action is just cover-to-cover fantastic. The systematic way in which Unit ravages the X-Men is both eye opening and refreshing. How are our heroes going to overcome an enemy that rips through their most powerful members as easily as a rabid cat rips through tissue paper?

It gets worse though...it isn't all smash and bash...but creative and whimsical, which makes it all the more ominous coming from an alien robot that reminds me of Box from “Logan’s Run.” This book is the poster child for how a simple conversation can be one of the most dangerous things on the planet.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Now, that is interesting. It doesn’t normally work that well.”