Last week DC gave us a few endings and the start of the heralded Flash War. A theme this week was DC books referencing the old universe, and by God is that a way to instantly get my attention. It was hard for me to pick a favorite, but I finally settled on The Terrifics. Doc Shaner’s art in that book is just too good. The runners up were The Flash and James Tynion’s last Detective Comics issue. For more, and some spoilers, read on.
???? Pick of the Week ????
The Terrifics #4
Doc Shaner and Jeff Lemire (WRITers), Nathan Fairbairn (ColorIST), Tom Napolitano (LetterER)
This is absolutely my favorite book of the “New Age of Heroes” line. The first three issues with Ivan Reis on art were fantastic, but it’s gone to a whole new level with Doc Shaner taking over on art. Doc is quite possibly my favorite modern artist, and this book is a fantastic example as to why. His Linnya is absolutely adorable, and the rest of the cast is incredibly distinct from each other. The way Doc captures facial expressions will never not be amazing to me. DC is currently publishing the funnest and freshest “four person element based super team” out there, and I can’t get enough.
Batgirl #23
Hope Larson (Writer), Minkyu Jung (ARTIST), Jose Marzan Jr. (InkER), Mat Lopes (ColorIST)
I don’t often talk about the variant covers to books in this column, but Joshua Middleton’s cover for this issue was breathtaking. Middleton has long been one of my favorite cover artists, dating back to his run on Supergirl covers at the turn of the decade. This one in particular looks so absolutely lifelike that it could be mistaken for a cosplay photo. The story inside wraps up Hope Larson’s run on the book, with what is mostly a “For the Man Who Has Everything” riff. It’s not a bad story, but it’s one we’ve seen played out a few too many times.
Batman Beyond #20
Dan Jurgens (Writer), Marco Castiello (ARTIST), Mark Morales (Inker), Travis Lanham (Letterer), Wil Quintana (Colorist)
“Bruce did it again?” And in that moment, we were all Barbara Gordon. Once again, Bruce throws a child into his never ending war on crime, and it’s nice to see people calling him on his crap. I do enjoy that after two decades of the character existing, Batman Beyond now has his own Robin Beyond, and Terry seems to have learned how to be the asshole mentor from Bruce. Robin’s first adventure isn’t even over and he’s already been fired. The dynamic between Terry and Matt was much better than the actual plot of this book, but here’s hoping next issue actually starts paying this off.
Detective Comics #981
James Tynion IV (Writer), Eddy Barrows (ARTIST), Eber Ferreira (InkER), Adriano Lucas (ColorIST), Sal Cipriano (LetterER)
So ends what should go down in history as one of the greatest runs on Detective Comics ever. Tynion spent the last two years crafting a long-running epic, and pays it off brilliantly with his final issue. His love for Batman’s supporting cast made this book great, week in and week out. I look forward for what the future brings for Cass’s new life with Babs as her mentor. I hope we see more of Tim and Steph’s Excellent Adventure soon. Also, I really hope these characters aren’t forgotten as new writers come on the books, so we’ll see what the future brings.
Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps #45
Robert Vendetti (Writer), Ethan Van Sciver (Artist), Jason Wright (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)
There will be no review of Hal Jordan this week. I refuse to read anything that Ethan Van Sciver touches. Van Sciver has aligned himself with the rampant harassment and abuse coming from the ComicsGate movement, and I refuse to boost his work in any way.
Justice League: No Justice #3
Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV and Joshua Williamson (Writers) Riley Rosso and Marcus To (Artists), Hi-Fi (ColorIST), Andworld Design (LetterER)
The art in this issue was a noticeable step down from the previous two issues by Francis Manapul. It also seemed a little more rushed in places. The story is building nicely, with a lot of action in this issue leading to the destruction of Colu. That should have some fairly big ramifications in the DC Universe. The sprouting of the trees on Earth at the end and the arrival of the Omega Titans sets things up for the finale next week. No Justice has been fun and exciting so far, and hopefully the titles that spin out of it will keep that up.
Mother Panic: Gotham AD #3
Jody Houser (Writer), Ibrahim Moustafa (Artist), Jordan Boyd (Colorist), John Workman (Letterer)
“Shit Gibbon” is an utterly delightful phrase, and one that doesn’t get seen enough. How DARE Ibrahim Moustafa make Jason Todd that attractive. I am offended by being attracted to that can of worms. I’m very curious as to where the two Violets story is headed. I was also not expecting the gut punch that was the back up story drawn by Paulina Ganucheau. Telling Ivy and Harley’s love story and ending it with Ivy sacrificing herself and becoming a tree was heartbreaking. Paulina’s art was a perfect fit for that story, as her Harley and Ivy is one of my favorite renditions.
Suicide Squad #42
Rob Williams (Writer), Jose Luis (Pencils), Jordi Tarragona (InkER), Adriano Lucas (ColorIST), Pat Brosseau (LetterER)
I didn’t think I was going to enjoy “Hard Traveling Heroes: Grim and Dirty Edition” as much as I am. Batman and Deadshot bro-ing it up in a pickup truck as they travel cross country has been pretty great. I hope the arc ends with Deadshot realizing that while he thinks he’s a dark reflection of Batman, he actually has the ability to be better himself. Jose Luis draws a great Batman, and I’d like to see more of that. I’m also really enjoying Captain Cold’s inclusion into the team, especially his banter this issue with Captain Boomerang.
The Flash #47
Joshua Williamson (Writer), Howard Porter (Artist), Hi-Fi (ColorIST), Steve Wands (LetterER)
Between this and Detective, I had a lot of screaming about the Pre-Flashpoint DC Universe this week. The opening of “Flash War” sets the stage pretty nicely, with Barry and Wally competing over how to do things as the Flash, since they both have their own styles. Coupled with Wally’s emerging memories of his lost experiences, he’s starting to realize that he’s maybe grown beyond what Barry had been. I squeaked when we saw the Morrison era JLA in a panel, and full on screamed when we saw Bart and the twins at the end of the issue. I hope Wally gets them back without having to rely on Zoom.
Wonder Woman #47
James Robinson (Writer), Stephen Segovia (artist) Rick Leonardi (Breakdowns pages 6-20), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (ColorIST), Saida Temofonte (LetterER)
Hey! Wonder Woman actually appeared on most of the pages of her own book! Small victory, I know, but we gotta take what we can get. Because the issue was bad. Most of it is Wonder Woman fighting a brainwashed Supergirl, and both of them ignoring the carnage they’re causing ala Man of Steel. Honest to God, the best parts of this comic were the two covers. The Emanuela Lupacchino cover is gorgeous and shows both heroines locked in battle. The Jenny Frison cover shows something I’ve wanted to see since last year’s Wonder Woman movie: Supergirl and Wonder Woman enjoying an ice cream together. Oh and brace yourself, because it looks like the next issue will have NO WONDER WOMAN AT ALL. “See if Jason ALONE is a match for the Dark Gods”. Just kill him okay? Nobody cares about him.
That’s it for this week, but join me again soon as we get a notorious DC fifth week! Lots of Hanna Barbera and DC character team-ups, a couple annuals, and the long awaited start to Bendis’s Man of Steel.
