|
|
|
|
Review Date: 01/14/2011
Good King Leonardo has decreed that we
review this week three new comic issues starring well-known
superheroes, two comics from the DC universe and one
from the mighty world of Marvel Comics: |
|
Batman
Beyond #1
Publisher: D.C. Comics
Adam Beechen: Writer
Ryan Benjamin: Pencils
John Stanisci: Inks
David Baron: Colors
|
In follow-up to the recent Batman Beyond
six-issue mini-series, DC has just premiered issue #1
in its new monthly Batman Beyond title, The series is
a futuristic addition to the wide Batman story universe
and features Gotham teenager Terry McGinnis as the Caped
Crusader in an unidentified future year in the City.
Terry is mentored and supervised in his Batman adventures
by an elderly Bruce Wayne. The series is scripted by
Adam Beechen with pencils by Ryan Benjamin, inks by
John Stanisci and colors by David Baron.
The issue #1 story is entitled "Madness, Mayhem &
Mentachem," and is part one of a three-issue story arc.
The main plotline centers on Carson Jatts, an employee
of a Gotham company named Mentachem, which warehouses
dangerous superhero-related materials. Upon learning
that he's dying from work-related contamination, an
embittered Jatts steals a villain's superpowered wand
from the facility, losing control of the weapon and
accidentally transforming himself into a megapowered
bad guy. A second plotline folds the young Batman into
the story, as he comes to realize that his mother and
young brother are among the hostages that Jatts takes
at a city shopping mall. Issue #1 ends in a dramatic
confrontation between Batman and the Justice League,
as the Caped Crusader takes a stand against the League's
desire to bull-into the shopping mall without much heed
to civilian casualties.
I gave a positive review to an issue of the Batman Beyond
mini-series and I'm happy to be able to provide the
same thumbs-up recommendation for this kick-off issue
of the monthly title. Its very fresh and fun to read
this enhancement of the Batman story universe that adds
a futuristic spin to all that is Batman. The strongest
entertainment element here is writer Adam Beechen's
talent in blending new futuristic elements together
with the traditional Batman story universe. My favorite
traditional example is the aged Bruce Wayne, an embittered,
always-on-duty old man struggling to relate to his caped
protege's positive outlook regarding both the job and
life in general. The most interesting futuristic element
in issue #1 is the future Justice League, five individuals
completely different from our 2010 League. I won't be
a spoiler regarding their identities, beyond the one
irresistable comment that there's a new Green Lantern
in the mix, and I can't figure-out whether he's human
or alien.
So a well-deserved thumbs-up positive recommendation
for all good DC readers to read this premier Batman
Beyond issue. If you haven't already read the just-completed
mini-series, then by all means check-out the back issues
which are still available on the new issues shelves
at That's Entertainment or talk to the store staff about
any upcoming graphic compilation reprints of this excellent
series. |
|
Iron
Man Legacy #9
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Fred Van Lente: Writer
Steve Kurth: Pencils
Allen Martinez: Inks
John Rauch: Colors |
Similar to the Batman universe, there
are lots of various Iron Man titles on the new issues
shelves these days at That's Entertainment. I wasn't
familiar with the Iron Man Legacy title, so when I saw
issue #9 on the new issue shelves this past week, I
thought I'd take it out for a review test-drive. The
comic book is scripted by writer Fred Van Lente with
pencils by Steve Kurth, inks by Allen Martinez and colors
by John Rauch.
Issue #9 is sub-titled "Bunker Mentality" and is part
four of an ongoing multi-issue story arc entitled "Industrial
Revolution." A page one narrative catches-up the new
reader on the story situation so far: the year is 1984
and Tony Stark has lost control of his corporation.
Living in the L.A. inner city, he's organizing the neighborhood
into a groundroots cooperative, in which he and the
local African-American population will be research entrepreneurs,
creating groundbreaking high tech and manufacturing
these products to bring some economic prosperity to
Stark's newfound downtrodden friends.
The plot advances in this month's issue, as Stark leads
the folks into squatting in an abandoned warehouse and
starting their business operation. Along the way, Stark
and friends deal with multiple challenges, including
threats from the police as well as danger from a local
criminal organization that appears to have some supervillain
support. By issue's end, Stark has made progress on
some of these issues. The story segment ends in a dramatic
bridge to next month's issue, as Stark's roommate/girlfriend
is captured by the bad guys, revealing both their supervillain
connections and their plans to threaten Stark with his
girlfriend's life in the balance.
Credit is due to the creative team for taking the unique
story angle of setting this entire title run in the
year 1984. While it limits their ability to have fun
with today's 2010 lifestyle and technology, its both
a challenge for the writer/artists as well as a rare
experience for the modern-day reader to see these characters
function in the pre-cell phone, pre-personal computer
world. I got an entertaining kick out of seeing everyone
in this story have to struggle on their own without
today's standard personal equipment to deal with all
of their problems and situations. These story boundaries
provide a nicely-crafted alternative type of Iron Man
tale, as well as wake the reader up regarding how we
get so overwhelmed these days, both in comic book stories
and in real-life, by all of the gizmos in our world.
So have some fun with this comic book-use it as an entertaining
chance to see characters creatively use their wits to
work with each other to deal with the interesting story
situation, as opposed to pushing a button or using an
I-phone app to immediately solve the problem at hand.
You'll be glad that you took a chance on this interesting
throwback Iron Man tale. |
|
Superman/Batman
#79
Publisher: D.C. Comics
Chris Roberson: Writer
Jesus Merino: Art |
DC's very popular and long-running Superman/Batman
title is up to issue #79 this month. The series is currently
written by Chris Roberson with art by Jesus Merino.
For the uninitiated, this comic book (obviously from
the title) pairs Superman and Batman together, with
the stories often structured with a dual, parallel narrative
that reveals how the pair often think differently or
see their common situation in very different ways.
This issue kicks-off a new, multi-issue story arc entitled
"World's Finest." The story setting is the 853rd century,
as a time-traveling supervillain named "Epoch,The Lord
Of Time" arrives in that century and announces he's
there to conquer the world. The story immediately shifts
into high action and adventure, as the Superman, Batman
and robot-Robin sidekick of that day take-on the bad
guy. Without spoiling any details, the battle and maneuvering
among the foursome rapidly shifts between such locations
as the future versions of the Batcave, Fortress of Solitude
and Justice League headquarters. The issue ends in a
plot twist as Epoch time-jumps away from the future
heroes, arriving in today's Times Square where our 2010
trio of heroes are waiting to take him on in next month's
issue.
Among the many Superman and Batman-themed comics out
there, this title has always stood-out as an excellent
source for veteran and newcomer fans alike to get a
high quality double dose of our heroes. This current
issue is no exception to that rule. Writer Chris Roberson
succeeeds in three entertaining respects. First, he
gives us a far future, science fiction version of Batman
and Superman that's both credible and avoids potential
cheesiness. And you gotta just love their robot Robin
sidekick! Secondly, he adds fun and entertaining far
future details regarding the well-known DC universe
props of the Batcave, Fortress of Solitude and Justice
League headquarters. And third, he brings all of this
action and plot nicely full-circle by issue's end back
to our present-day heroes, for further fun adventure
and action in next month's issue.
So a positive recommendation to add this well-crafted
comic book issue to your ever-growing new issues reading
pile. There's a nice mix of far future and present-day
DC universe details and atmosphere in this comic book
that makes it well-worth taking the time for an entertaining
read. |
Contest Winner Announcement!!!
Our latest contest challenge was for you to
tell us your most favorite and least favorite comics of
2010. We have co-winners this week, who are (drumroll, please...)
Mike Dooley and David Ruiz. Mike's favorite comic this past
year was The Lone Ranger, with Mike telling us that the
build-up of suspense from issue-to-issue was well-worth
the wait. His least favorite title was Ultimate Spider-Man,
telling us that "the current storyline is just too much
Spidey and his Amazing Friends."
David Ruiz's favorite comic book of 2010 was Thor, The Mighty
Avenger, which we just reviewed last week. David liked its
classic, works-for-all-reading-ages style and wishes Marvel
wasn't ending publication of the title next month. David's
least favorite title this past year was Nemesis, saying
that the title for him didn't live-up to its hype and much
of the storyline didn't seem to make much sense. Congrats
to our contest co-winners, who each receive a first prize
$10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment!
As a final contest comment, for what its worth, my own three
most favorite comics of 2010 were Thor, The Mighty Avenger,
the ongoing comic book adaption of Philip K. Dick's science
fiction novel "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? and
the science fiction futuristic take on Batman, "Batman Beyond."
For least favorite, check out my reviews throughout 2010
which gave a thumbs-down to a handful of titles.
New Contest
Announcement!!!
Here's a simple mystery contest for you. The
Bongo Congo panel of contest judges has noticed that there
are many cars around Worcester these days (my neighbor Ray's
car, included) with bumper stickers on them that mysteriously
just list the number "13.1." So e-mail us at Gordon_A@msn.com
and tell us what these mysterious "13.1" bumper stickers
mean. In the event of multiple correct entries, our contest
winner of the That's Entertainment $10.00 gift certificate
will be selected via a roll of the dice from among the correct
entries.
That's all for now, so have a great start-of-2011
comic book reading week and see you again next week Here
In Bongo Congo!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|