DNR (11-24-10)

Teen Titans #79 - I loved Nicola Scott's work on Birds of Prey and moreso on Secret Six, where she's still sorely missed, so while I was attracted to the last issue of Teen Titans and the debut of the new creative team, I just wasn't enthused about it. That changed this issue with the addition of Damian Wayne/Robin to the team and I have to say JT Krul handled it perfectly, even if it's kind of incongruous as Damian isn't yet a teenager. The action of the issue was decent but Krul nailed the emotional aspects wonderfully and has a total bead on Damian's character. Going to stick with this for a little while at least.



Detective Comics #871 - Speaking of new creative teams, Scott (American Vampire) Snyder and Jock (the Losers) climb on board the figurehead title at DC and I have to say I'm surprised and a bit blown away. Snyder not only brings the "detective" back to the title, but he totally geeks out, seeding in plenty of nods to Dick Grayson's past as well as various DC stories (like Gotham Central). While Morrison's Batman and Robin was pretty great, I think Snyder may have an even better grip on Dick Grayson. I guess we'll see.

Batman and Robin #17 - Speaking of Morrison's Batman and Robin, well, it's no longer Morrison's Batman and Robin. It's Pete Tomasi's Batman and Robin, but due to some scheduling stuff, it' won't be for another three issues. In the interim it's Paul Cornell's Batman and Robin, and it's entertaining enough but Scott McDaniel's art looks terribly rushed (as it most likely was, since they were a last-minute filler creative team) and I'm not sure Cornell has Damian's voice right.

Batwoman #0 - Yes, it's pretty slight, but it's also pretty pretty. It's gorgeous, and I've always like the split-story issues like this. I'm sure DC was hoping to have this ready for the "Bruce Wayne: The Return Home" stuff last month where Bruce was spying on all his allies, because it certainly reads like it. There's lots of tiny nuggets for future Batwoman stories here, I particularly love the idea of Batwoman having her own "Robin" with her cousin (and former Titans West member?) Flamebird under her wing.

Captain America #612 - Prison fun for Bucky, while the politics and press of the situation are really bringing Steve Rogers down, man. If Brubaker pulls it off this will either be a fully rewarding tear-down and build-up of Bucky-Cap or a wacky cheese fest with America giving Buck a hug and a "we're sorry" at the end. Or Mephisto gets involved and makes everyone forget.

Justice League: Generation Lost #14 - As I pointed out in the not-review of Booster Gold last week, the Giffen Justice League often had Marvel analogs, and here Judd Winick presents a "Days of Future Past"-riff with Captain Atom time-jumping (probably the best aspect of his character, sparsely used since it was re-introduced in Armageddon 2001) to a future where OMACs replace the Sentinels. It's hands down the best issue of the series so-far, and sort of a great read on its own.


Avengers vs The Pet Avengers #2 - Last month I mentioned how straight this series played the talking animal thing, well, sadly, I must rescind because there's a horrendously groan-inducing sequence of Tony Stark-as-a-frog leaping "comedically" from one troubling situation to another. Too cute, Chris Eliopoulos, too cute.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 4: Realm of Kings - In the scheme of my 30-years of reading comics, I've only *just* started to care about the Marvel cosmic (all started with Annihilation), but man I nearly spit my grilled cheese sandwich out my nose when Phylla-Vell cut Thanos out of that cocoon. Sad for the end of GOTG and Nova, but the big hardcover of the Thanos Imperative comes out in January and I'm totally ready.

Yo Gabba Gabba: Goodnight Gabbaland and
Yo Gabba Gabba: Gabba Ball - The aforementioned Chris Eliopoulos did the latter while J. Torres and Matthiew Loux write and draw the former, two 16-page board comics from Oni Press riffing on the delightful characters from the hipster-kiddie show. Hopefully we'll get Gooble in a subsequent book, because that sad ghost is hilarious.

Definitely Not Reviews (11-17-10)

Batman: The Return #1 and Batman Incorporated #1 - Two peas of the same pod, you can't read one without the other (whoah, analogy break). Batman: The Return isn't so much about welcoming Bruce Wayne back to the fold, but instead establishing the new status quo as Bruce hands out his marching orders, and thus the new direction for the bat books. As much as what went on previous was a grand orchestration, it is, at this point, irrelevant, and, to Grant Morrison's credit, he truly makes this a fresh start. So if you'd missed "RIP" and Final Crisis and Return of Bruce Wayne and Batman and Robin and all the other bits in-between, it doesn't matter. All aboard, enjoy the ride. First stop, Tokyo.

Green Lantern #59 - oh, hooray, two dull, should-still-be-dead heroes having an argument and, in typical Geoff John's fashion, bluntly laying out the character traits of one another in a conversational manner like noone ever does. And Barry keeps a wallet in his tights? How does that work without lumping?

Legion of Super-Heroes #7 - Two stories. In the first, Tyroc shows off some new abilities as Durlans attack. Murder mystery solved. In the second, Brainiac 5 has trouble with his time bubble and Paul Levitz must have said Candlejack while writing the script, because that was as abrupt an end to a chapter as I've seen.

Tiny Titans #34 - This issue is devoted to a little meta-commentary on Franco's delightful-yet-simplistic cartooning, as both Superboy and Zatara have the same haircut and therefore look interchangeable... and they have some fun with it. I'm never not impressed by this book.

X-Factor #211 - after last month's interlude, it's nice to get the story back on track. Every issue PAD gives the reader at least one capital-m Moment., Madrox's plebs-eye-view of Thor is definitely it this issue.

GI Joe/Cobra #10 - Oh, I'm so glad to see Antonio Fuso back, but I should probably admit that when the first G.I. Joe/Cobra mini-series came out I wasn't too enthused by his work. But I can honestly say that it sometimes takes a bad artist to make you appreciate a good one. Also, nice to see the return to Chuckles' story after four issues of meandering around the Cobra/Serpentor cult, which was interesting but overlong.

Sixth Gun #6 - I could tell that this series was barrelling towards a sixth-issue conclusion (makes sense afterall), but I kept noticing that there was never an "of 6" on the cover, which implied that it wasn't just a six issue limited series. Given that there's a 7th issue cover printed in the back, I'm super-excited that Sixth Gun is continuing on, but I should also say that this issue is a definite end to the current storyline and it is a fantastically orchestrated, totally widescreen battle. Dapper caps off to Misters Bunn and Hurtt. Monocle Smile.


Warlord of Mars #2 - Oh, get to Mars already John Carter. (Note: I'm pretty sure he'll be there next issue).

It Came From Beside The Bed

Classic G.I. Joe Volume 9 - for all the ham and cheese that this series seemed to revel in, every so often Larry Hama delivered an honest gourmet sandwich of an issue - a turkey breast with pancetta, arugula, asiago and garlic aioli spread oasis amidst the mountain of cheap if satisfyingly salty pressed pig and Kraft singles. This volume actually features three of the best tales from the series, including "Weeding Out" (perhaps the best of the series?), "SFX" (a redux of the infamous "Silent Interlude" wordless issue #21) and, though lesser so, "Not Fade Away" anniversary issue which brings in the original G.I. Joe (and G.I. Jane) and puts them amidst a rather entertaining heist plot. I should say there's a rather dire clunker or two in the midst of the usual bologna outside of these three, and the art is a wild ride from the fantastic (but perhaps ill-suited) Marshall Rogers, to the oversimplified Tony Salmons, to surprise work from M.D. Bright (whom, it would seem, took over as regular artist, and will handle the bulk of the art in Volume 10 and 11)

New Acquisitions, Future "It Came From Beside the Bed" fodder

Grant Morrison's 18 Days HC - less a comic and more an art and process book looking at Morrison's proposed (in-the-works?) animated project based off eastern folklore. I like Morrison, I'm interested in process, and this think looks really, really pretty. I'm going to have trouble with the character names though, I can tell you that much off the bat.

DC Comics Presents: Batman #2 - A quartet of Ed Brubaker-penned Batman tales from around 7 years ago for 8 bucks. Sure, why not.

Definitely Not Reviews (11-10-10)

Batgirl #15 - Barbara gives Wendy a history lesson using a wonderful Tiny-Titans-esque cartoon interface which highlights new artist Dustin Nguyen's visual dexterity. Hope Babs had Wendy sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Meanwhile, there's a new Grey Ghost (see Batman: The Animated Series for future reference). Brian Q. Millar is firing on all cylinders. A thoroughly fun book.



Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 - That sound you just heard was my head exploding (see Justice League: Generation Lost #13 for a visual representation of what that looked like).

Birds of Prey #6 - This issue was, to quote Doug Benson, fucdiculous. The resolution was so outrageously "everything works out for everyone, hooray" in a Tempest fashion. There were a few nice moments (Shiva giving Huntress a new moniker springs to mind), but overall it was hideous to look at and not much more pleasant to read. Teetering on the "drop pile".

Booster Gold #38 - You know, until a few years ago, I didn't really realize that characters such as Mr. Nebula, Blue Jay, Silver Sorceress and General Glory from the much beloved Giffen/DeMatteis run of Justice League were analogs of Marvel characters. Yes, I can be kinda dense sometimes. Anyway, this is a wacky WWII caper involving Booster Gold and General Glory and it's the first issue of the GifDeMat run on the title that feels 100% like the old JL (except the art is a little clunky). I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not.

Justice League: Generation Lost #13 - Holy poopies. Some stuff actually happens this issue. Like (SPOILER) shooting (SPOILER) in the face with his (SPOILER), and making his (SPOILER) go all 'splodey. I honestly didn't see that one coming, mainly because Geoff Johns isn't writing this book and he's usually the one to dismember and 'splode people. I've long objected to Max Lord being d-bag #1 in the DCU, but I'm starting to enjoy disliking the a-rod.

Mighty Crusaders #5 - Wow, Inferno's a T-800. I would say "SPOILER" but nobody's reading this book so I can pretty much give away anything that happens and apathy towards it will continue to abound.

Red Robin #17 - If my wife weren't picking this (or Robin prior) I can't say I'd be reading this with any regularity, but with the exception of the first few issues of this new series, I'm actually really enjoying it. Nicieza really does well managing Tim Drake: Teenager, Tim Drake: Wayne Enterprises figurehead, and Tim Drake: Superhero, now merging in elements of Tim Drake: Playboy, and Tim Drake: Son.

T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 - Don't think I didn't notice that both licensed-properties books that came out this week (also Mighty Crusaders) were $3.99, DC. Then again so was Return of Bruce Wayne #6. I'm not sure anymore what the connection is. As for the book itself, it's a very Greg Rucka-esque presentation (a good thing) featuring more of the behind-the-scenes aspect of a UN sponsored super-powered fighting force than the men (and women) wielding the power. Not sure if it'll continue like that (I'd like it to), or if it'll take a turn into more conventional, follow-the-powers story. I'm on board, and curious about the old stuff, since I know, literally, nothing about the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.

Tiny Titans/Little Archie #2 - okay, issue one was fun, but this one is full on "aw yeah!" Josie and the Pussycats are invited to Pet Club (where the first rule is, naturally, to not talk about Pet Club), and a party breaks out in the Titans treehouse, as Captain Pureheart and the Archies-as-heroes gang show up. It's utter crossover madness, with more puns than you can shake a stick at. Directionless, but absolutely delightful.

Unwritten #19 - ahem, still not caught up yet. Residing comfortably with a pile of Unwrittens stacked neatly beside the bed.

Chew #15 - a lovely "Last Supper"-esque gatefold cover adorns this interlude issue in which Tony goes home for Thanksgiving and we learn all about his family and his family troubles. Plus, a serious game-changer ending which will either mean exciting changes or an unwelcome shift in the story.


Tron: Betrayal #2 - So very surprising that a comic book interlude actually accomplishes anything, but Betrayal actually develops Kevin Flynn in a way that the first Tron never did, observing as he struggles with his corporate life, his family life and the virtual reality world he built. The Grid is also grown from seed to, likely, where it is at when Sam Flynn arrives in the new movie. It's not a perfect story, but it is pretty darn good, add that to the new trailer my already unbridled enthusiasm for the new film has grown exponentially.

It Came From Beside The Bed

Classic G.I. Joe Vol 8. - I've been slowly working my way through the highly ridiculous Classic G.I. Joe comics (though not nearly as ridiculous as the 80's cartoon), but I've fallen behind with volume 9 and Special Missions vol 1 & 2 still waiting. But I powered through volume 8, which contained an arc which at up half of its ten issues. In a crazy case of mindboggling overkill, Serpentor and Cobra Commander (who's really a dude named Fred) are locked in a civil war on Cobra Island (a land mass created a few volumes back from a "Superman Returns" style plot) and somehow Serpentor managed to get the Joes on his side. Toss into the melee Destro and his own private army, and it's a three-way tug of war. After it all ends (in but a whimper) the Joes are livid and seek to take on their handlers who forced them into the fiasco. But virtually the entire (now mammoth-in-size) Joe crew are arrested and publicly called out for treason while a few underground Joes scribble together an A-Team like plan to clear their name and expose the politicians who are behind it all. It ends abruptly with a one-panel appearance by Destro who swings in to save the day (seriously). Larry Hama is not a great writer, but for some reason his unintentionally screwball take on highly unrealistic characters and situations hits a certain ironic tone with me and, especially when it comes to G.I. Joe, seems to fit it like a glove.

Definitely Not Reviews (11-03-10)

Man, been slowly whittling away at this DNR for a week, but sickness and family time have kept me from completing it. I at least got it pushed out before I pick up this week's books.

Batman & Robin #16 - sweet sassy molassy, Bruce Wayne's back and kicking ass. How'd he get back? Well, I don't really understand that part... but it was all very grandiose and exciting wasn't it? I'm still rather annoyed that many of the turns of this book (eg. Dick and Damian staying on as Batman and Robin, the new "Batman, Inc") were spoilered months in advance, but there was still two other turns in this book (one minor involving the Joker, one quite a bit bigger involving a speech by Bruce) that made me rather excited.

Doom Patrol #16 - As a change of pace, Keith Giffen works the pencils and is joined by a new co-writer, and I don't think I've liked a single issue of this book half as much as I liked this one. I can easily say, with the action, humour and character drama, best issue yet. This series has really been picking up steam in its second year, and thus it'll more than likely be cancelled soon.

Secret Six #27 - I think if I was a Warlord fan I'd be totally crapping my pants in excitement over this issue. As it stands, I'm not, but I still really enjoyed it. Amanda Waller has a moment that proves once again why she's one of the best character in superhero comics.

Superboy #1 - I don't have any great affinity for Superboy, but I do like fellow Torontonian Jeff Lemire, and if ever there was a guy who should write "superheroes in a small town", it's Lemire. This issue: a little clunky in establishing Connor Kent's status-quo and supporting cast (with heavy homage to original Superboy setting and structure) but doing so immediately might mean less time spent doing so later on. Sticking around this one for a while.

Tron: Original Movie Adaptation #1 - I'm not sure what the purpose of this is, and yet I bought it anyway. There's some nicely written narrative elements from Peter David and a different take on the storytelling timeline, but otherwise it adds nothing to the film, the art is stiff and the colors not nearly vibrant enough. The rational man inside me is wrestling with the completist over whether to buy the second issue or not, as I own the film and thus this comic adaptation is redundant.

Strange Tales #2 - It's probably not good that I just read this and I can't remember anything much from it. In general, though, I like that Marvel's bringing in indie creators to play with their toys however they want to. It would be interesting to see almost any of these creators cut loose on a full issue story or mini-series.

Captain America: Man Out Of Time #1 - It's not a retcon... Mark Waid excels at the retrofit back story (see his Flash and Superman: Birthright), and Captain America: MOOT should solidly uphold that tradition. I'm not really sure what to make of the last few pages. What just happened to the rest of the Avengers, how is he sending off communications, and can you get any more cliche than the rescue-the-girl-from-the-thugs-in-a-back-alley (though there is a bit of a twist on that one).

Invincible #75 - My wife's the Invincible fan, but I only casually read the odd hyper-violent issue from time to time, just to see what's happening. This issue, I didn't so much as read as flip through it, thinking that this extra-sized, extra-pricey 75th ish celebration was the big conclusion to the latest storyline, but, apparently, it's not, and all the extra pages are there for some other Invincible-less Kirkman creations.

Slamarama #1 - 2 - Originally titled Squared Circle, I actually discussed the first issue previously, but creator Dave Howlett has self-published a new, full-colour version with the new title as well as a second issue, which were must-haves for me. Colouring on indie-books tends to generally be weak, but Howlett nicely sticks to basic colouring and doesn't overwork the gradients. Being a child of the 80's wrestling scene, there's a nostalgic aura to this fictionalized wrestling action-drama, complimented by some well executed wrestling sequences as engaging melodrama. If you're not up for hunting down physical copies, you can always read it on-line and in full colour at the Slam-a-rama blog.

Scenester: The Inevitable Collected Edition - The aforementioned Howlett also has made available in a compact collection his first self-published series, Scenester, about a quartet of Halifax 20-somethings trying to get a pop-culture zine off the ground in the pre-internet age. Having tried numerous times to do the same thing (mostly on-line) it's all very familiar territory, and rings very true. Howlett only did three issues and was just hitting his stride (in terms of characters and comedy) when he gave up on it, which is too bad, but high quality stuff with a cornucopia of easter eggs on every page.

Definitely Not Reviews (10-20-10)

Wow, really late this week on doing these. Could this be the looming death of our only currently regular feature at Second Printing? Well, at least I got it out before the next batch of new releases hits the stands. I didn't get around to reading B&R #15 until Saturday, and on Monday I realized I hadn't read Sixth Gun #5 yet. I blame Netflix.

Batman and Robin #15 - Damn, I love looking at Frazer Irving's art. I'm not sure what it is about it, but it's absolutely unique in almost every respect, from his figure work to his color palette, it's just so... interesting. Which reminds me, when's Gutsville coming back?

X-Factor #210 - sort of a 'tweener issue with a lot of plot but not so much action. Loved the Rictor/Rahne/cabbie conversation, which is one of my favourite comic book moments of the year.

Sixth Gun #5 - this is a serious game changer, this issue, really setting out (or at least really implying) what the stakes are and what the deal really is with those guns. And for Lost fans, there's a hatch! Even if none of the characters resonate all that strongly with me, I still love this book.

Super-Soldier #4 - I don't like it when stories end with an opening for further stories, because just as often they don't materialize. I enjoyed Super-Soldier (even at $3.99 a pop) but why is it only a mini-series? Why not ongoing? Surely there's enough room for a Bucky-led Captain America book, and a Steve Rogers-led Secret Avengers team book, AND a Steve Rogers-led solo book, no? Or is this just leading to a new plot for those other two books to cross over with one another?

Legion of Super-Heroes #6 - What I find remarkable is that this relaunched Legion is centering around a Bill O'Reilly-like conservative blowhard super-hero, and actually making a real go of it, really getting to the meat of "Earth-Man" and his views. He's not just a caricature of the extreme right, but made understandable, even if you don't agree with his viewpoints. It's astonishing, really, and I'm surprised that the right - well, Colbert especially - haven't glommed onto this book and trumpeted the hell out of the most prominent identifiably conservative superhero currently on the stands.

Older stuff I finally got around to reading:

The Anchor Volume 1: The Five Furies - Phil Hester is one of my favourite writers out there. I assume he's more interested in his own work than work-for-hire since he's not really written for any of the books at DC and Marvel (despite having a long illustrative past at each), but then I do know that he's worked rather extensively on Top Cow books which I just can't bring myself to read no matter who writes or draws them. The Anchor is another really fab original idea from Hester and super-enjoyable. Volume 2 is a must-find for me.

Dr. Id - I found this curious one-off from 2006 recently in the bargain bin of a small indie comic shop in Vancouver, and it looked both fun and well illustrated, and it is. A satire of the Doctor Strange ilk, wherein the mystical Dr. Id takes on various physical manifestations of the psyche. It's funny, trippy and quite entertaining. The glorious black and white art is a hybrid homage of both Kirby and Ditko, and the whole premise that this is a "best-of" collection of a classic, forgotten character is well worn but otherwise inviting.

Definitely Not Reviews (10-13-10)

This week in geek:


Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5 - I think I want to like this series more than I actually like it... for now. Once it's done, and I read it all in one sitting, perhaps two or three times over, perhaps with another complete reading of Morrison's Batman run and Final Crisis, then maybe I'll like it more. Sometimes Morrison's dense structural style and call-back-ed-ness makes for too challenging a read. This is almost Invisibles-level mind-numbing.

Booster Gold #37 - I'm a huge Giffen/DeMatteis Justice League fan. That series has had the biggest and most lasting impact of any pop-culture experience in my life. I was afraid that yet another dalliance in JL territory by the writing team would further dilute my affections (ala the moneygrubbing Star Wars onslaught of the 'aughts), but I find this to be perfectly charming, full of the heart that I remember the series having if not exactly being as witty (it feels kind of forced). It's hard to resolve this quasi-buffoonery with the serious goings-on in Generation Lost, but I still like it.

Bruce Wayne, The Return Home: Batgirl #1 and
Bruce Wayne, The Return Home: Red Robin #1, given that "The Return of Bruce Wayne" isn't finished yet (another Morrison series delayed? *gasp*), these feel like they've jumped the gun a little bit. Both, however are like bonus issues of their respective series and they tie loosly into one another in the whole "Return Home" thing whereby Bruce tests the mettle of all his former associates. I'm curious about his "Amazo-suit" and I really liked the bit about Cassandra Cain (Brian Q. Miller is doing a bang-up job on Batgirl). Red Robin (here and in issue 5 of ROBW) is drawn as far too grown up for his own good, though.

Green Lantern #58 - I've officially dropped Brightest Day from my pull list, but I can't help but be totally agog over Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy's work here. I don't care about Hal Jordan, I'm seriously surprised at the popularity of Larfleez, and where the hell did John Stewart disappear to? But I am happy that Atrocitous will be the big bad of the first season of the Green Lantern cartoon. I like that dude.

Justice League: Generation Lost #11 - I miss Giffen's breakdowns on this title, as I really dig me the 9-panel grid. That said, I think Winick is doing a decent job with the story without him, and the art has been pretty decent as well. The fact is I want to hate this because it's another dumb "let's make Kingdom Come part of continuity" story, but I don't and that's surprising. Plus, loving the Cliff Chiang covers.

Mighty Crusaders #4 - Two more issues to go and I don't think we're going to see the Archie heroes in DC Comics for at least another decade. It's too bad though, because this is a fun little team book (even at $3.99) full of heroes taking on invading aliens and bizarre villains.

Tiny Titans/Little Archie #1 - sweet fun for the kiddies

Unwritten #18 - oops, I've kind of let a stack of these pile up beside my bed (I haven't read an issue since #12), but one of these days I'm going to have an absolutely fantastic time catching up (I saw that last issue was a "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style book which seems crazy awesome.

Strange Tales II #1 - The usual mixed-bag of great, good and utter crud, but I like these indie-twisted takes on mainstream characters, the opening Wolverine story (who the hell did that anyway, they didn't sign their work) was a standout (outstanding!).



Warlord of Mars #1 - I liked this so much I might actually read the books...someday... but not now... I'm busy y'see... yeah... busy...

Definitely Not Reviews (10-06-10)

I have a venue to write reviews about comics (see last post), but I don't get to just geek out about them very much. Now, given my busy schedule juggling work, family, and consuming of popular culture in whatever time remains, the luxury of being able to really geek out over things has all but disappeared, so I'm creating "Definitely Not Reviews", a new feature for myself and the gang (hi gang) to throw down our list of what we purchased in any given week and drop a few poorly composed lines of praise or knee-jerk criticism on said titles and hopefully engage you, dear, faithful Second Printing reader to tell us in the comments your own list of books you bought this week and maybe your own quickly-formed opinions therein.

Let's go!


Brightest Day #11 - This was it for me, do or die... do or Deathstorm (Deathstorm? Ugh). Since the 3rd issue I've been finding it a tedious, dull read, with only my quickly waning affinity for most of the resurrected characters and the almost all-round fantastic art carrying me through. But with stuff like that scene where Jason Rauch's dad is standing there lamenting his relationship with his son right before Deathstorm kidnaps him... beyond ridiculous. Couldn't he just have been watching TV? And Aquaman hopping into a big rig...perhaps if the next chapter of that story were told from the trucker's point of view it might be a little interesting, but I'm bored, quite frankly. Am I alone, here?

DC Comics Presents: Jack Cross - Reprinting the 2005 4-issue mini-series from Warren Ellis in a 100-page, $8 special, rather than a $10 or $12 trade paperback. I say BARGOON! The remarkable thing about this compact espionage tale is how much of it is talking heads, one of the most difficult things to pull off in comics, but it's really quite good, and artist Gary Erskine makes it all quite exciting. I'm sorry I missed it the first time around but glad to have this affordable opportunity to pick it up again. I've kind of avoided Ellis' Red (for no particular reason), is it as strong as this?

Doom Patrol #15 - I've had such a difficult time with this series, with each issue since the end of the Metal Men co-feature sitting on the threshold of being its last. It has a manic energy to it but that leads it to feel unfocussed and I have a hard time reading it, but there's been enough each issue to keep me coming back for another. I really liked this issue, we'll see how next issue does.

Secret Six #26 - I'm a devoted Secret Six fan, and I think it's one of the most exciting and entertaining capes'n'tights books on the stands (and it's a sharp contrast to DeadpoolMAX in how to wright a book that features both graphic violence and comedy), but I'm really, really, really disliking Jim Calafiore's art. I remember him from X-O Manowar back in the Valiant days when they had a Bob Layton-inspired house style that most of the art team adhered to, and I liked him then (that was, what, 15 years ago?) but not so much now. Seeing Nicola Scott's gorgeous work in the Teen Titan's preview in the back of the book only underscored my longing for a pretty artist to get on the Six.

DeadpoolMAX #1 - I'm really disappointed.
Tron: Betrayal #1 - I'm really quite pleased.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #4 - oh my, I love this book. Nobody in comics juggles multiple eras like Hickman. There are elements reminiscent of Earth X and his own Pax Romana but this is a really fun stroll through the secret history of the Marvel Universe, that, really, doesn't even need to be set in the Marvel U to be all that entertaining. Oddly enough, though, I'm not 100% into the art. Dustin Weaver's drafting skills are quite impeccable and he provides at least two absolutely jaw dropping, inspired moments in each book (usually more), but there's something about it (digitally inked maybe?) that just doesn't connect fully for me.