Batgirl #28 Review –“When the Vampire Slayer Takes Rules over Gotham!”

Intro

Since the time Gail Simone started the run on Batgirl in the new 52, she has put the character through hell. I believe she has really changed the dynamics that Batgirl has never done before especially with the Wanted Arc. It’s of the best Batgirl stories I ever read in a long time and I suggest you pick it up in trade if you haven’t read it. The emphasis on the tragic relationship that Barbara and her Dad (Jim Gordon) have that are one and the same is believability amazing and I feel it has definitely made them a bit closer than ever before. You would feel sympathy for them all the way through. It’s a great story to read that deals with a lot of father and daughter relationships in today’s world. Also, this issue starts a new arc so I recommend new readers should start here if they want to read this series.

Story

A little girl has been kidnapped and Batgirl and Strix are investigating to go look for her. But suddenly they are interrupted by Silver the vampire slayer.

The Good

I believe this is a really good issue of Batgirl. You can really see the relationship of Batgirl and Strix continues to be really fun and loving. Strix has been a really interesting character to me and I love the humor element of her awkwardness has been put on here. It’s really funny to enjoy and I hope they will eventually do more. I’m just hoping for own series as well. I really think Silver is an interesting villain, they really show what’s he been up to in Gotham and what he plans to do.

The Bad

I think the art is really hit and miss here; sometimes it looks really good while other times it’s really bad. There is also a lot awkward fighting positions and face expressions that look pretty stiff. It’s pretty weird because the art is usually pretty stellar. I’m assuming the art was rushed this time around.

Verdict

I give this issue a 4/9 out of 5/10 stars. This is a really good issue that establishes more of Batgirl and Strix’s relationship. It also introduces a new villain in an interesting good way. The only challenged is the rushed art. But it doesn’t make issue hard to read or pull you away. If you haven’t read Batgirl in a while or want to know more about Strix, I recommend you start picking this issue and continue on. Batgirl has been a real pleasure to read.

   

Batman ’66 #27 Review –“When You’re Cooling System Causes an Ice Age!”

Intro

Since the last time I reviewed this series, it was in a bumpy road but it eventually get back on track at the time of False-Face. So, if you dropped the series, I recommend you jump back on. It’s definitely got the digital features and humor it’s been missing. They have featuring almost every single character that has appeared in the TV series even the obscure ones like Zelda and King Tut and a few new additions have been hinted like Batwoman and Batgirl (Bette Kane). But now the focus has switched to major villains like Mr. Freeze and it has loads of fun ice puns. It’s a pretty good issue that worth jumping on to. Also, be on the lookout for future releases of Batman ’66 DVD’s coming in the near future.

Story

Mr. Freeze has sold a new cooling system across millions which, has caused an ice age and it’s up Batman and Robin to stop him.

The Good

This issue was pretty good. It was very reminiscence of the Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Freeze puns in new ways. They were absolutely funny and hilarious and it really lived up to the original ones. So, I think you will enjoy this issue and the next one if you like this version of Mr. Freeze. There is also great use of the digital features that gives off a nice cooling effect. You will see an interesting Mr. Freeze origin story that’s quite different than you expected in a good way.

The Bad

I kind of have mixed feelings about the art. Most of it is good in the first half but then when it features Batman and Robin their face structures look weird and odd. I really didn’t like the way it looks, it gives off a really weird face expression on them that looks different than the previous art. But other than that, the art is pretty good.

Verdict

I give this issue a 4.5/9.5 out of 5/10 stars. It’s a very good issue that will give you tons of laughs. This issue will definitely be a fun read. The only disappointment is the art being a little rough or sort of bad. But I think you should pick this up! It’s a great jumping on point that establishes a new story arc for new readers and it looks like the series will be in a good ride for quite a while.

Batwing #28 Review –“When the Search Digs Deep.”

Intro

Since the new revamped of Batwing, it has been pretty good and engaging to read. Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have really made an effort to make Luke Fox an interesting character. He really gets the sense of feeling of being young and new about being a superhero and he’s unsure about what to do. There is also a new change that previous character David Zavimbe, didn’t have which was interesting villains. It’s one of the main problems it had and the only one I ever found interesting was his brother, Isaac Zavimbe, Massacre. The villains weren’t interesting and didn’t have much a background on why he/she became a villain and didn’t have any different personalities. But now with this new villain we get to see his past and see why he is the man he is now and that’s something we really needed or maybe still need more in this series.

Story

Luke Fox’s sister is still kidnapped and he’s getting desperate fighting as Batwing as the answers unfold.

The Good

The story has taken Luke and his family in an interesting toll dealing with the kidnapping of the missing family member. We see how desperate everyone gets by screaming at each other and getting angry or emotional. Batwing also gets pretty violent with the thugs and it really shows that he’s trying to get the answers by any means necessary. It’s really good to finally see what these characters do at desperate times.

I thought the art was really good in here. Most of it is really detailed and solid even during the action and non-action scenes. You can really see the characters face expressions and what’s going on with the action of how the characters are fighting. What’s amaze me about the art is that it never looks off and less detailed like in most books. So, it’s really nice to look at this issue.

The Bad

The constant problem I seen in this book is not knowing much about the villains like for example, Ratcatcher, he has an interesting look and personality. I just wish we knew more about his past, how he got his powers and why he’s obsessed with rats. I also want to get to know more about Russell Tavaroff and what makes him different than Bane.

Verdict

I give this issue a 4.5/9.5 out of 5/10 stars. It’s a really good issue that allows you see what the characters going through at a trouble time and we get to see their best way to solve their situation. It really makes them feel relatable and a sense of danger where we can feel bad for them. The art is really beautifully detailed and we can see what’s going on in every scene. The only downside is that we need to know more about the villains and I hope that happens in the next issue. Anyways, I recommend you get this issue and jump on this series. It’s very underrated and needs more attention!

Batman: Joker’s Daughter #1 Review –“Who is your Daddy, and What Does He Do?”

Intro

At the time of villains’ month I was very intrigued by the character’s look and really wanted to learn more about her and see if this version is any different than the others. So after reading her villain’s month and a couple of Catwoman’s issues my interest in her fell completely off. She had a very interesting origin of dealing with anorexia and not accepting her looks. But the underground tunnel with her underwater cat (laughs) wasn’t good enough for me. She was just a crazy girl who just went out to kill. We never really understood why was she crazy and with The Joker. But after reading this issue that’s what we really find out about.

Story

After her time being underground, she goes on her way to find The Joker to learn more about him and understand why she feels a certain connection. She runs into Batman and the cops but also find the answers that lead her one step closer.

The Good

Marguerite Bennett really does a phenomenal job with this story. We really get to learn why she feels a special connection with The Joker and why she feels the skin she found was chosen for her. We also get to dig deeper into her past about her parents and not knowing who she really is. And we get to find out the maker of The Joker’s skin surgery.  We basically get to learn just about everything about her and feel like what it’s her mind. It is very good and intriguing to experience her psychosis in a much deeper level.

I really thought the art in this issue was very interesting. It’s very gory and has the disgusting gross look on it. I suggest not eating while reading this issue. It’s really that gross. (Laughs) There were also a lot of nice shades of red. It was very violent and bloody everywhere. But even though I loved the art there was inconsistencies where the art looked really bad.

The Bad

The only problem I had was that Batman is sort of forced being there. Because all Batman did was take her to the cops and trust them to take her to jail. I don’t think Batman would trust some petty cops especially someone who thinks that she’s The Joker’s daughter. But makes it worse is that she eventually escapes from the cops and kills more people and nothing ever gets taken care about it.

Verdict

I give this issue a 3.5/8.5 out of 5/10 stars. It’s a really good issue that digs deep into the character’s mind. What’s great is that we get to understand why she feels this certain way and still feels like a mystery to her that seems blurry and vague. That’s what makes this issue intriguing. The only downside is that the story and the art are a bit downgraded at times. But hey not every story is perfect and overall it’s still a good book. If you didn’t feel justified about her previous issues and want to give her a second chance then I recommend you pick this up.  You will definitely love it.     

  

Batman: Black & White # 6 Review – “It’s So Black and White, That It’s Forgettable

Intro

As I read this series it’s been a big disappointment. A lot of stories are unfinished and not very touching as the previous series. The last series had great stories that were touching, funny, action-packed with beautiful art. It’s what I was looking forward to in this volume when I heard the announcements and got the issues. The only issues I can remember being good is probably #1 and #5. Nothing stood out and sadly this issue ends the series as it stands a series with just good art instead of good stories.

  

The Good

The only good thing about this issue is the art in two short stories which were She Lies at Midnite by Adam Hughes and To Beat the Bat by Dave Johnson. They were the only good ones because they stood out with many different shades of black and white and very solid on the body structures of the characters. They both had their own styles that differentiate them from each other while the other artists in this issue looked very streamlined. Those artists looked like it was made from one artist instead of just many and some of it was inconsistence between good and bad art throughout the panels.

The Bad

I really didn’t like this issue because most the stories were about people dealing with Batman instead being about Batman. We had Sex in the City girls talking about how Bruce Wayne treated them and how they couldn’t deal with it, Robin telling us how people view him around Batman and a cowardly thug getting beat up by Batman while doing anything for the woman he wants. I got the constant theme of the stories. But there’s nothing touching about these stories. It’s just seems boring and uninteresting. 

Verdict

I give this issue a 2/4.5 out of 5/10 stars. It’s a very disappointing issue with boring stories. The only good thing was the art, and apparently that isn’t good enough for me. I value good stories more than good art because I feel we can get the same good art in the internet for free while good stories are harder to get unless it’s stolen. The constant main problem with this series was unfinished and never solved the mysteries like the Catwoman story by Adam Hughes in this issue. I’m really not the type of person that likes unfinished stories. So, if you like black and white art over anything then go ahead and get it. But if not then I suggest you stay away.  

Action Comics #28 Review – "It’s a Whole New World”

Intro

Since Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder jumped on board of this series it’s been a young and edgy feel I’m starting to like. It’s the young Superman we always wanted who just started to be a superhero. He’s very unsure of himself on what to do like being nice to everyone or having a sense of fear. That’s what this issue is all about. Just having Superman with the sense of fear really makes him feel human and that’s what I always wanted from Superman because fear is what motivates us to do anything. And seeing a hero have that from another planet making us relatable and let’s know that being “human” isn’t so special because anyone even from another planet can feel that way. This series is really been putting a smile on my face. So, if you looking for a certain character that can relate to you in terms of fear I suggest you pick this up. It’s definitely different and the best than the other previous titles of Action Comics.

Story

Superman and Lana are exploring more of the underground world seeing new species, environments and structures. They also meet a Queen they aren’t too happy about and find ways to change it.

The Good

I really enjoyed this issue very much. Just seeing the young immaturity of Superman and Lana have is great. They laugh at the creatures, looking at each other while they “undress”, being nice to everyone and not realizing they are posing a threat and most of feeling scared. That’s what I like about this issue, to actually see how Superman sees this new threat is really hurting him. It’s a new feeling to him because he’s always felt overpowered and indestructible.  It really shows how “human” Superman can be even if he’s an alien from other planet and powerful.

The art I feel is truly amazing because the characters look young and very solid. Nothing is too crazy or over the top. It’s just simple and vibrant especially with the colors that have a lot of shades of blue and it gives off that energetic feeling which the characters are having to us.

The Bad

The only problem I had is that sometimes the faces expressions looked static and weren’t moving. It’s the same straight smile face running in almost every panel.

Verdict

I give the issue a 4.5/9.5 out of 5/10 stars. It’s a good issue that brings the young Superman we have been missing in the New 52. It’s the Superman who is young, immature and isn’t quite sure what to do as a superhero. If this is the Superman you been looking for, then pick it up and read it. It’s full of excitement and joy to read and continue on.