Week of June 20th

Honorable Mention

Next Men: Aftermath # 44 (IDW)

John Byrne has always been a fascinating writer to me...and I’ve been a fan of the Next Men from the very beginning. He has a knack for twisting the stories in the most unexpected directions, when you least expect it. This issue follows that formula as it brings a long storyline to a “seemingly” end. Only time will tell if it’s really the end, but the wrap up rings of the classic “it was all a dream” scenario...except we can never really be sure that it was. Like is says on the cover..."The End?"

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

Daredevil # 14

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Mark Waid, Pencils: Chris Samnee, Colorist: Javier Rodriguez, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Editor: Stephen Wacker

All-Star Summary for Choice: It’s never good news when you wake up in Latveria...a prisoner of Doctor Doom, and nobody has a clue where you are...giving a rescue effort the same chance a snowball has in Hell. Welcome to the life (or death) of Daredevil.

   The writing of this issue is great as we get a front row seat to a hopeless situation from the perspective of Matthew Murdock. Trapped by Doom and no help on the way...my heart sinks just thinking about it. The “man without fear” certainly knows it today! Stuck in a glass cell (standing room only) as they hook up hoses to it...to gas you, must be stressful (to say the least). On the upside, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right? I doubt Daredevil will be stronger after the machinations of Doom!

   Of course Daredevil makes his escape (after blowing his chance at freedom) and the adventure begins as he kicks butt through Latveria on his way to the border. I had every confidence in him...until he began to lose his superhuman senses. See...nanites will do that to you, if you program them to. Uh-oh...looks like things have gone from bad to worse since escaping Latveria...really blind, has the same chance as that forthcoming rescue (and that snowball).


All-Star Quote of the Book: “Oh my God! I did it! I’m free!.”

DC Universe Presents # 10

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: James Robinson, Artist: Bernard Chang, Colorists: Bernard Chang, Letterer: Steve Wands, Editors: Wil Moss & Eddie Berganza

All-Star Summary for Choice: I have always been fascinated by immortal characters. The whole idea of living forever...or at least having lived incredibly long has always appealed to me. Yes...I’m a Highlander fan, both of the film and the series. I’m also a Vandal Savage fan, so imagine my elation about DC spotlighting him for a few issues.

   From the beginning, I have to wonder what the New 52 has done to Savage...with so many changes, I could only cross my fingers and hope for the best. Well...they made him a serial killer (not a really new development), but have never presented him in the same way as an actual serial killer. The story leads you to entertain the possibility that he really isn’t immortal at all...just a deranged crazy person that one day decided to kill many people.

   Vandal’s daughter is now an FBI agent (and has serious daddy issues as you might guess) and enlists Vandal’s help in catching a copy-cat killer of his earlier crimes. The relational dynamic between them is very interesting, How can she not carry scars from her past with a serial killer for a father...and what mind game is he playing with his own daughter? All this...and I’m left to wonder if this is the same Savage I’ve always known. Well...he jumped out of a helicopter into the woods and survived, but then again...so did Rambo.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “I’m a terrible man...what can I say?”

Green Lantern Corps # 10

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Peter J. Tomasi, Artist: Fernando Pasarin, Colorists: Gabe Eltaeb, Inker: Scott Hanna, Letterer: Dave Sharpe, Editors: Brian Cunningham & Matt Idelson

All-Star Summary for Choice: John Stewart has a knack for getting himself into trouble. First in Cosmic Odyssey where his overconfidence led to the destruction of an entire planet, ending billions of lives. Then pulling the trigger on Lantern Mogo during the War of the Green Lanterns. Now...once again, to protect the corps, he again takes the life of a fellow Lantern. This guy just can’t catch a break!

   It’s not just bad luck (even though he has plenty of that), but the Guardians themselves are setting him up. They were the ones that secretly revealed his actions and are now directing the Alpha Lanterns to pass judgment and sentence on Stewart. At least on John’s part, he accepts responsibility for what he’s done and, of course, is remorseful. Guy Gardner is another story. If anyone thinks Guy is going to just stand by and let John get executed, then they clearly haven’t been reading this book...and don’t know Guy Gardner!

   It isn’t just the clandestine dealings of the Guardians of the Universe. It isn’t just the cold and calculating efficiency of the Alpha lanterns. It isn’t just the profound and resolute soul searching of John Stewart. It isn’t just the brash and rebellious machinations of Guy Gardner. It’s also the great artwork and flowing storytelling that make this book a great experience to read.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “John Stewart, for the murder of Lantern Kirrt Kallak...you are hereby sentenced to death!”

Invincible Iron Man # 519 

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Matt Fraction, Artist: Salvador Larroca, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Colorist: Frank D’Armata, Editor: Mark Paniccia.

All-Star Summary for Choice:  The Mandarin has come a long way since the days of the old 90’s cartoon, Iron Man. I used to be absolutely annoyed with that show with Mandarin being the arch villain on almost every single episode. It was a running gag with me...’I wonder who’s going to appear on the show this week? Oh, that’s right...Mandarin.” Now that he’s more devious and diabolical than Ra’s Al Ghul...I can’t get enough of him!

Capturing a host of villains, implanting them with bombs and forcing them to work for him, the Mandarin has no patience for failure and doesn’t tolerate any lack of acknowledgment that he is the master. Gotta love this guy. Meanwhile Tony has been forced to give up being Iron Man, another piece of the Mandarin’s master plan no doubt. Add to that the capture of Spymaster...although capturing him and keeping him turn out to be two very different things in a very unexpected way. Speaking of unexpected...who is this new Iron Man?

The artwork is as spectacular as always and makes this the type of book that I can’t wait to read every time it hits the shelf. It has me on the edge of my chair wondering what is going to happen next...and loving the visuals as it all unfolds. Wonderful writing and excellent artwork is making this title a mainstay of the All-Stars.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “You die, I win. I die, you lose, I win.”

Planet of the Apes # 15

Company: Boom Studios

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Daryl Gregory, Artist: Carlos Magno, Colorist: Darrin Moore, Letterer: Travis Lanham, Editor: Dafna Pleban

All-Star Summary for Choice: If you’ve been a regular reader of the All-Stars, then I don;t have to tell you what a huge fan of the Planet of the Apes I am, both the movies and television series...and now, the comic books! The artwork is excellent and the talented writing keeps me intrigued.

General Nix convinces Commander Jommu to send the White Troop to protect Voice Alaya because Councilor Nerise is secretly working with human terrorists to overthrow the government. Meanwhile Julian, son of Sully, the Mayor of Skintown...and adopted son of Voice Alaya, has been abducted from the city of Mak by humans. Not wanting to get shot by accident, he surrenders himself to the pursuing apes. That doesn’t go very well though.

Not known for their patience or love of humans, the apes are on the verge of killing Julian when his mother and her party snipe all but the leader. Promising to let the ape leader go in exchange for the Julian, the ape agrees...but that doesn’t go very well either. Meanwhile the White Troop delivers Voice Alaya to Councilor Nerise (uh-oh) and things go from bad to worse. I guess Nix didn’t know what team all the players played for.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...if you don’t know who these people are or what I’m talking about...it’s because you aren't reading one of the best books on the shelf. Shame on you.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “This is that point in the drama in which the aggrieved party says, what’s the meaning of this? Thank you for sparing us that. We all know exactly what this means.”