The comics industry closed out September with another big week. Marvel's Legacy relaunch officially began, while two more key Generations one-shots also saw release. DC delved deeper into some huge Rebirth mysteries in Wonder Woman #31, Action Comics #988 and Detective Comics #965 while also putting the spotlight on another Dark Knight in Batman: The Murder Machine #1. Elsewhere, Image delivered another issue of Saga, IDW moved closer to the climax of the First Strike crossover and Valiant began the next phase of Aric's yearlong journey in X-O Manowar #7.
Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and be sure to let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.
Written by Dan Jurgens | Drawn by Ryan Sook
As I mentioned in my last review of Action Comics, this Superman is visually one of my favorite depictions of Superman, ever. The first page of this book, a quiet “Liar!” as we pick up right where we left off, Superman confronting Mr. Oz in the Fortress of Solitude, is amazingly beautiful. I know I complained a lot about the last issue, but this is a major step up. Jor-El’s character, the art with which he's portrayed, perfectly mirror Clark. People always talk about who Superman’s archenemy is, his Joker, and honestly this issue makes me feel like Jor-El could be it. He's a perfect contrast, ripped away from his home planet as it was destroyed -- an act of cruelty counterpointing the act of love that saved Superman. Kal-L’s last vision of Krypton was his parents smile, Jor-El’s last view was of his wife burning to death. Clark landed on Earth and was taken in, taught kindness and strength; Jor-El was thrown to Earth and forced to witness cruelty. More than any other comic so far, this one shows the cruelty and reach of Doctor Manhattan. More than any other, this comic builds Manhattan up as a worthy villain. This issue, almost entirely a flashback, is an amazing portrait of what Superman could have been, his father’s corruption a mirror to Superman’s faith. I don't know where this story is going, but I hope Jor-El sticks around. He's an amazing addition to the Superman mythos. -Tara
Final Score:
Written by Frank Tieri & James Tynion IV | Drawn by Riccardo Federici
It’s rare when an artist’s style is so unique that it feels like it’s adding something new to the superhero genre. I loved Riccardo Federici’s pages in this issue, and it's a nice departure from what I’ve come to expect. Federici’s art and Rain Beredo’s colors give the issue the appearance of both a dream and a nightmare. It’s the kind of style that wouldn’t be out of place in an actual issue of Heavy Metal. As for the story, it seems that the Dark Nights: Metal tie-in one-shots are already falling into a pattern after only two issues. There’s a Batman in an alternate reality who faces an unimaginable loss, who ends up transformed into some horrific blend of himself and another Justice League member. If all of the Dark Batmen are just going to have the same origin over and over, then they’re going to lose their appeal pretty quickly. In this issue’s favor, it does actually further the Dark Multiverse invasion by striking a pretty big blow against the heroes. So it’s not a throwaway tale, but I was hoping for more. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by James Tynion IV | Drawn by Eddy Barrows
Uch. I did not like this comic. I didn’t hate it, but. Am I getting old? Is that what it is? Or is Rebirth slowly turning sour? Either way, I gotta say, this is one of the more lackluster issues of Detective Comics’ Rebirth. Almost the entire story is a long flashback, telling how Tim Drake became Robin, deducing Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne’s true identities before saving them. (This, apparently, brings back Drake’s pre-New 52 origin, but the Batfamily books have basically ignored the New 52 since Rebirth, so I don’t know why this is a big deal.) Drake learns Mr. AOz’s “true” identity and then he unleashes all of the prisoners in this otherworldly prison. Which is a great idea because everyone there is definitely on the side of angels. Drake teams up with the mysterious voice who has been teased for awhile but, honestly, if you've been paying attention to any of the other Bat-family books, you saw this reveal coming a mile away. Even if you hadn’t, it’s not that big of a surprise -- this issue telegraphs it pretty obviously. The mystery of Rebirth is ending, not with a bang but a whimper. Barrow’s art is fine, but it doesn't seem too special. The last splash page of the book is a bit overcrowded, although that does seem to be more of the colorist’s fault. Overall, this issue is just so-so. Not enough for me to drop it, but enough that I'm starting to roll my eyes whenever a book claims to tie-in to the central Rebirth mystery. -Tara
Final Score:
Written by Joshua Williamson | Drawn by Neil Googe & Gus Vasquez
Man, I was so excited when the Flash got new negative powers, but all it’s seemed to do is turn him emo. It's almost Spider-Man 3-esque. I’m waiting for him to do a dance, kiss a girl, and glare at Iris with a cruel smile. But that is too much action for the Flash. All Barry does now is mope about how he can't help people and needs to take responsibility and then he just… doesn't. He doesn't really do anything. Oddly enough, though, he's not acting too different. He still seems like Barry, just super bummed. He even at one point says his powers aren't making him act like a mopey thirteen year old. More than that, his powers -- which are shown to be super destructive in the first issue he has them -- don't seem to be anything but his old colors with a palette swap now. This issue features two artists, neither of which did a terribly great job. The first, Googe, seems like an okay web comic artist, and the other, Vazquez, is better, but not on the level of regular Flash artist Carmine Di Giandomenico (who most likely had his hands full with Flash: The Red Death -- which ruled). Nothing truly interesting has happened since Barry got his new powers, which is so disappointing. There's a huge fight with a new rogue that normally I'd be all about -- blood powers? awesome! -- but here it's just… meh. The whole comic is. However it does seem like there's going to be some shake up to the story coming soon and hopefully that'll reignite the spark in this comic. But for now, there's no real heart to it. -Tara
Final Score:
Written by Robert Venditti | Drawn by Rafa Sandoval
I’m genuinely curious as to how this creative team gets the Green Lanterns so well, and yet the New Gods seem so wildly out of character every time that they open their mouths. It’s really jarring, especially since the New Gods have been so intrusive in this Metal tie-in story. There is an intriguing deep cut to one of the lost villains of the Fourth World, but the issue doesn’t quite pull that trigger. However, it does show off a few of the ex-Sinestro Corps members as Green Lanterns while giving Hal, John, Kyle, and Guy key roles in resolving the crisis. Again, Venditti has a great handle on the main characters, and Rafa Sandoval’s style really lends itself well to the cosmic visuals. Outside of Ethan Van Sciver, Sandoval is probably the best artist that DC has for this book. While the dialogue occasionally falters, the visuals are strong throughout. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Steve Orlando | Drawn by Felipe Watanabe
Man, is this flashback week at DC or what? Every comic of theirs I've read has been one big flashback, JLA included. Almost every comic coming out of DC now seems to be connected to Rebirth, too, which is neat. It's a line wide event that has its own threads you can read and follow, that hook up with each other, forming a beautiful tapestry -- but you don’t need to read every comic to get a great story. It's really a brilliant way to do crossover events, even if some of the issues (and I’m looking at you, Detective Comics) are lackluster. This issue, however, is pretty great. While I'm not a fan of The Atom, and this comic didn't make me one, the journey Palmer takes through the Microverse to find the hole in existence is gorgeous, filled with huge, sci-if ideas -- beings that consume all, light as a means of transportation, centaur worlds and time storms -- all beautifully drawn. Now, to be quite honest, I do believe this book might have worked better with a different artist, one who would’ve leaned into the weirdness. Watanabe seems to draw all of the over-the-top excitement as standard superhero fare but... but that said, Watanabe’s art is fantastic. I'd love to see the pencils of this book. There isn't, honestly, much to the story -- three travelers search to find the hole in the world, two falling in love as they do -- but the worlds they visit are so fun and neat, it makes me wish more stories were set in the Microverse. The ending has me on the edge of my seat. Honestly, this comic reads more like a Silver Age comic than anything else on the stands and that’s a good, good thing. I'm kinda in love. Only way this could have been a better issue of JLA is if it had more Killer Frost. (Every book could use more Killer Frost.) -Tara
Final Score:
Written by Tom Taylor | Drawn by Stephen Byrne
Boom! Studios’ Power Rangers comics have done a lot to rehabilitate that franchise in the comic book realm. But Justice League/Power Rangers has done something equally impressive - it’s made the Rangers feel like they can legitimately share the stage with the world’s greatest superheroes. Tom Taylor’s script treats the Power Rangers like they belong, and they’ve earned the League’s respect. Stephen Byrne’s art delivers the appropriately insane finale that includes giant versions of Alpha 5 and Lord Zedd. Somehow, neither team is overshadowed by the other, and they work surprisingly well together. Even the small touches in this issue are impressive, like the identity of the person on the $100 bill. This is simply a great issue, and a very enjoyable crossover adventure. Given that final image, it certainly seems like a sequel is inevitable. And if this creative team returns, then it’s going to be something special to look forward to. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Jody Houser w/ Jim Krueger | Drawn by Shawn Crystal w/ Phil Hester
Whenever a new Mother Panic comes out, I get so excited. Ooo, it never disappoints. Let me start by saying: damn, is this a gorgeous comic. Before, MP felt like a weird, techno-punk comic about a hurt teen trying to destroy everything. Here, now, it feels like a Gothic tale of a wounded princess trying to find her way home. Young Animals is putting out some of the best comics. In the beginning sequence, all of the panels are arranged in such a way to make you feel like you're constantly falling deeper and deeper into the dark. That works, as Violet is talking to one of her only friends from the hell she grew up in -- a friend who might be a hunter, or may be a wolf. Violet Page is a hurt, messed up kid and she might be my favorite hero in Gotham. And, like all the best heroes, it looks like she's finally going to have a supervillain to contend with. There's a small side plot building up the idea of her mom being a meta where nothing much happens, and the end comic (“Gotham Radio”) is abysmal as ever, but aside from that this is such a solid comic. If you don't feel the need to know everything, I'd just jump on with this gorgeous, haunting issue, and then go back to the others. Either way, read Mother Panic. -Tara
Final Score:
Written by Rob Williams | Drawn by Stpejan Sejic
More than any DC series of late, Suicide Squad has been a showcase for how much the art can impact the overall impact of a series. The most recent story arc struggled in large part because of the significant dip in visual quality compared to previous stories. But with Stpejan Sejic briefly hopping on board again, suddenly it feels like a whole new Suicide Squad. Sure, it's disappointing that Sejic is just pitching in on one chapter of a larger crossover, but there's no denying that he's a perfect fit for the dark, wacky conflict that is Dark Nights: Metal. Sejic brings a wonderfully surreal, even Mad Max-worthy vibe to this issue, as the Squad and the Teen Titans join forces to take on the worst the Dark Multiverse has to offer. Sejic's expressive figure work and inspired character designs really bring out the most in this conflict. Harley Quinn literally feels like a completely different and more dynamic character thanks to Sejic. Here's hoping DC can eventually pin him down for an entire arc on this book. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by James Robinson | Drawn by Carlo Pagulayan
"Wonder Woman #31 marks the second creative team shake-up for this series since the departure of Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp and Bilquis Evely. It's notable both for marking the return of writer James Robinson to DC and for finally picking up on lingering plot threads from Justice League: The Darkseid War. It's hard to judge from this issue whether Robinson's take on Diana Prince will live up to that of Rucka and Shea Fontana, but the story itself is off to a promising start." -Jesse
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Final Score:
Continues
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