Action Comics #30 Review –“I Will Not Take This Threat Any Longer!”

Story

After defeating Ghost Soldier for killing the innocent wild creatures, Superman goes after the new threat that’s been watching and sending Ghost Soldier after him. The new villain is named Harrow and now the threat faces on Superman.

The Good

It’s good to finally see where this story takes place and it looks like it’s after Forever Evil. So, it makes me realize that this isn’t a young Superman, that it’s the same Superman we’ve known since the new 52 Superman titles started. But this Superman is written more developed with emotions, great weakness and strength. Greg Pak does a really good job showing that here. It’s nice to see that Superman can be somewhat immature and learning at the same time. It really makes him relatable to every human being. We also get to learn more about Harrow like what her goals are, what powers she has and what she is doing here.  We really get to see how human she is and what her flaws are too.  I like how she can see Superman’s kindness as a weakness and how people can use it to control him. It’s pretty nice to see how Harrow can pack a punch on Superman. We also get to learn about Ghost Soldier a little bit too like his goals and why he works for her. It’s a great thing we get to really know a lot about these villains. It really makes them interesting.  We also get to see a cool glimpse of Doomsday, since this is a prelude to the event.

The art team continues to do a good job here. This time they gave a lot of nice massive double page spreads. They had amazing great detail with great action scenes, face expressions and colors. We get to see a lot of great use of blues, greens and yellows and it really shows how the dead, can be dead and alive at the same time.

The Bad

It really does look like Lana is definitely long  gone from this storyline and I guess they should have shown a goodbye instead of cutting to Superman going after the new threat. It really does make it seem like she’s long forgotten. This issue may also look like it’s rushing to reach the Doomsday event. There are a few panels that aren’t in great detail than the others. But it’s dominated by great art. It really doesn’t need to be taken away for that.

Verdict

I give this issue a 4.5/9.5 out of 5/10 stars. Action Comics gets another great issue! Greg Pak writes Superman like no other. He really gives Superman all the emotions, strengths and weaknesses that make him human and relatable to us. We get to know more about Harrow and Ghost Soldier and they have great potential to become formidable foes to Superman. Once again, the art team does a phenomenal job by having amazing double page spread art. It’s an art that’s really worth seeing. If this team keeps it up, we can really see great stories for the Doomsday event. The only downside is seeing how Lana is long forgotten and it seems rushed to the Doomsday storyline. But I think  Action Comics is still an enjoyable read and people should definitely pick up this issue.

       

Action Comics #29 Review –“It’s Time to Bring down the House”

Story

After Superman, Lana and Ghost Soldier helped the creatures escape, the creatures go wild as they are exposed to the sunlight. But now Superman must face Ghost Soldier as this goes on and there’s another threat watching him.

The Good

Superman is really blowing down the house here. I really like how Superman gets mad because he shows people to not mess with him. He really shows how powerful he can get and it’s really cool to see all that. What I also like is that we get to see Superman’s weak side. Ghost Solider really poses a threat and can injure him. It was nice to see Lana willing to do anything to protect Superman and knowing how angry Superman can get due to past experiences. It’s good we get to see how much Superman can care for a species that can’t control themselves and is willing to do anything to stop any threats that get in his way.

Once again, the art team does a phenomenal job here. They really killed with the art. There are beautiful action scenes and beautiful colors dashing in every scene. The face expressions are done so well that you can see all the emotions these characters are having. I really loved the action scenes the most here because you can see all the rage in Superman and how much destruction he causes looking crazy good.

The Bad

There isn’t much of anything bad here besides seeing Baka leave here and I was hoping much more could have done with him and Superman. I was really hoping for him to become Superman’s pet. It was pretty strange to see Superman leave without saying goodbye to Lana. I really hope she doesn’t disappear from the storyline because it does seem that way.

Verdict

I give this issue a 4.5/9.5 out 5/10 stars. Man, Greg Pak is doing such a great job in this series. He really knows how to write Superman really well. It’s great to Superman in all types of emotions like sadness, anger and fear. It’s good to see Superman at his weakest and strongest all in the same issue. It’s also good to see how much Lana knows about Superman better than anyone else. I really grew to like this version of Lana and I like how much she really cares about Superman. The art is done really well here with striking good images with action, emotion and beautiful colors. There really isn’t much bad besides seeing that Lana can disappear from the storyline. But I feel this is a well deserve issue to buy.  People really need to jump in this series because it’s a Superman series worth reading. 

Beware the Batman #8 Review –“A Rebel with a Bat!”

Intro

At the time, Beware the Batman cartoon series came around I was worried, mostly because of the CGI and the use of obscure villains instead of the main. I was afraid the series wouldn’t do so well and it kind of reminded me of the last minute done well Green Lantern series. But I was very intrigued about the premises of Katana and Alfred being former agents and assassins and I did want to learn more about these obscure villains. But sadly, this show has suffered the same fate as the Green Lantern series by not having good ratings and pulled off of Cartoon Network’s schedule and has been in a hiatus ever since then. I admit this show didn’t have it right at first until now. I’ve seen episodes 12-17 that was aired in New Zealand. I decided to watch these episodes to see if it had any potential to up the DVD sales. Gladly it has great potential and has produced the best episodes ever in the series. The disappointment is that I feel that Cartoon Network already has plans to cancel this series right at the time it reaches its improvement and it reminds me very much of the same thing  that happened to Green Lantern. So, I suggest when the DVD’s are out, to please go get it. This show really deserves a second chance. Since the comic series has been around it hasn’t nearly gotten the potential of the cartoon. It has been lacking in many issues except for these two issues. So, I highly suggest you pick this issue and the last one especially if you liked the cartoon because it recreates the Batman mythos in ways you never thought before and they are done very well.

Story

Tim Quan, Barbara’s tutor student has become a man-bat and it’s up Batman, Katana, Oracle and Langstrom to save him with a cure!

The Good

This is honestly one the best issues of Beware the Batman I ever read. It was great to see how Tim Quan is actually, wait for it…this universe’s Tim Drake! We also get to see an interesting new relationship between him and Barbara. It really brings a new mythos to the Batman universe. It was also great to see how Oracle comes to play in this issue as well. The story is pretty interesting to read too.

The art is done very well on the characters’ face expressions and the action. I really liked how Tim Quan looked very similar to Tim Drake. So, you can easily tell the nods and his man-bat 

design looked scary and menacing.

The Bad

I don’t like design of Man-Bat (Langstrom) and I kind of wish this was an actual episode because I don’t know if Tim Quan will ever appear in an issue again or in the cartoon series at all. Even though, I have these complains I don’t see it as a valid reason to take points off for it.

Verdict

I give this issue a 5/10 out of 5/10 stars. This is a great issue that would have been a great potential for an episode. Seeing the relationship between Barbara Gordon and Tim Quan was really good and this Man-Bat story proves to be interesting. The art was very well done especially in the action. So, if you’re acceptable to new changes in the Batman mythos, then I highly suggest you get these issues especially since this series is cancelled too. It’s really worth reading for any fan of the cartoon series. 

  

Batman Beyond 2.0 #14 Review –“When the Blood Thickens!”

Intro

Since the last time I reviewed Batman Beyond, Kyle Higgins has been doing a phenomenal job all the way through. If you have been reading the series, you can tell how much of a big fan of the DCAU he is. He’s been creating so much back history of the DCAU characters that reflect on the relationships of the characters that are in the Batman Beyond world right now. It really gives the nods to all of our favorite DCAU series that we grew to love over the years. At this moment, Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne have been at different sides of table. Terry has been working with Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne has been working alone. But now they are forced to work together to fight off Man-Bat (Langstrom) and this has caused the lines of their relationship to thicken.  If you’re a big fan of the DCAU or if Batman Beyond has been in your interest than I suggest you collect the volumes and jump in this series very soon!

Story

Terry and Bruce are forced to work together to stop Man-Bat from creating a city of Bat-people. Will they convince him to stop or will he keep pressing through?

The Good

Terry and Bruce have been at different crossroads and now finally see these two meet and force to work together is great. We also get to learn more secrets of the Batman family relationships and we get to see how Bruce and Man-Bat relationship are at the same with him and Terry.

Emilio Lopez and Tony Silas have done a great job on the art. There’s been many great action scenes and good use of colors. The character face expressions are done so well that you can tell how close these characters are. The only problem I had was that some panels less detailed.     

The Bad

I couldn’t find anything wrong with this issue besides two panels being less detailed. Since it was the only two panels, I didn’t feel the need to take points away for it.

Verdict

I give this issue a 5/10 out of 5/10 stars. This is a really great issue that intensifies relationships and action. It was great to see Bruce and Terry put their bad relationships aside and work together to solve this case. The art has great action scenes and good face expressions that explain great moments with the characters. So, if you’re looking to see how Terry and Bruce’s relationship goes up and down like a roller coaster, then I suggest you pick this up. 

All-New Ghost Rider #1 Review –“Ready, Set, FIRE!”

Intro

It’s been a while since a Ghost Rider series has been around. So, when All-New Ghost Rider was announced I was sort of shocked and spectacle because it was a new character named Robbie Reyes and he drives a car instead of a motorcycle unlike the previous Ghost Riders. This got me worried and intrigued about how he will fight or utilized with the car against enemies. Plus, I liked that he is Latino, which means more diversified characters for the universe. I’m surprised they decided to trash Alexandria, the last new Ghost Rider because I was hoping for her to get another chance at a relaunch with a new writer. I found her to be an interesting character that I grew to like in the Venom series in the Frightful Four arc. Rick Remender did a really good job on fleshing her out even more than so than her solo series. The problem with her series was that it was an all action series that gave her no personality and I kind of think that’s why it only lasted nine issues.  So, if you want to know more about her I recommend you check out those Venom issues. Also, if you’re looking for Johnny Blaze, I suggest you check out Thunderbolts. It’s a really fun series with new adventures of Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider and the Thunderbolts team. Anyways, I read this issue and seem Robbie Reyes is a cool character that you should check out. I’m much relived on how this series is turning out.

Story

Robbie Reyes is a man on the run trying to live his life and protect his brother. What will his life be like when he becomes the Ghost Rider?

The Good

Robbie Reyes is a really cool character. You get to know who he is and how he is willing to do anything to protect and support his brother. He also has some notable flaws that make him human and relatable to us.

The art team in this series does a very good on the art even though it gets pretty hard to get used to. But once you see the racing scene the art and the colors give it a retro racing feel that definitely fits in.

The Bad

I felt the issue needed a bit more dialogue to understand what’s going on. It sounds kind of incoherent without the much needed dialogue. I may have a feeling it was left out on purpose to give it a mystery to set up the story for the next issue.

Verdict

I give this issue a 4/9 out of 5/10 stars. This issue gives you a pretty good idea on who this new Ghost Rider is and what makes him human and likable. The art also gives a new style that’s never been done before and the neon vibrant colors makes the comic come to life. So, if you’re looking for a new character especially with Latin roots or you don’t mind someone new taking the mantle, then I suggest you check this series out.