It was another big week for the comic book industry, as DC wrapped up the "Superman Reborn" crossover and Marvel launched a new Iron Fist comic and answered a big mystery in The Unworthy Thor #5. Elsewhere, IDW kicked off a new Ghostbusters series involving both the original and reboot teams, while Valiant relaunched X-O Manowar to incredible results.
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 Doug Mahnke
To be honest, I was hoping to never see the New 52 Superman again, even though it was probably inevitable. However, the resolution of “Superman Reborn” does a lot to reconcile the differences between DC’s rebooted Man of Steel and the Post-Crisis version who took over the role last year. As a story, the ending doesn’t quite have the impact of the earlier chapters. But what we get out of it may be the most satisfying versions of Superman and Lois Lane that we could possibly hope for. The steps taken to get there may make your brain bleed if you think too hard about it. Yet the results are worth it. Doug Mahnke nails the more dramatic moments in the issue, but he's at his most impressive during the double page splash of Superman’s history; which even seemed to be an artistic homage to some of the classic comic creators who left their mark on the franchise. This isn’t a perfect issue, but it’s hard not to be happy with it. This is what I wanted from my Superman. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Dan Jurgens | Drawn by Bernard Chang
Slowly but surely, the Batman Beyond ongoing series is starting to resemble the classic cartoon rather than the somewhat messy status quo that Dan Jurgens inherited back when he started on the book. Now, Bruce Wayne is back in the picture, and he’s returned to find an increasingly crowded Batcave. Part of the reason that this works is that Jurgens is playing off of the nostalgia from the animated series, and Bernard Chang does some really terrific work on the characters and the action sequences. It’s also a pretty brisk read. However, Jurgens does fall into the trap of letting his dialogue be too on-the-nose. It’s not enough to completely derail the issue, but it really is noticeable. When even the famously silent assassin Curaré is speaking, then perhaps there’s too much talking. There are some interesting moments in which Curaré teams up with one of the supporting cast members, yet the details of her return are somewhat nebulous. This is better than average, but not quite as good as it should be. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by James Tynion IV | Drawn by Christian Duce & Fernando Blanco
The League of Shadows is really putting Team Batman through hell in this storyline, but that’s something that James Tynion IV has been doing since the beginning of his run. He created a really likable team of sidekicks and misfits, made us care about them, and continually makes them suffer. It’s been a really well-written series so far, and the emotional bond between Orphan and Clayface is actually affecting. But Orphan is fundamentally broken and Batman can't give her what she’s looking for. Not even a showdown with Lady Shiva is enough to make Orphan complete. This issue is really compelling, even though it paints most of the heroes into corners that they can’t easily escape. Christian Duce and Fernando Blanco do a very good job on the artwork, especially during Orphan’s two major fight scenes. But it’s more impressive to see the way that they capture the emotions on the faces of each character and their body language. The right performance is almost always on the page, Duce and Blanco deliver on their end. The cliffhanger is something that we’ve seen many times before, but hopefully Tynion will put a fresh spin on this familiar face. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Gerard Way | Drawn by Nic Derington
Normally, a superhero comic that takes this long to bring its main cast together would make for a frustrating read. But the whole point of Doom Patrol is that this isn't a normal superhero team. There's weirdness abound in this new issue, with several members undergoing major transformations and Gerard Way and Nic Derington generally taking every opportunity to exploit the wacky potential of the medium. Derington continues to impress with her ability to craft a comic that looks so clean and elegant yet manages to offer some of the most surreal imagery on the stands. Tamra Bonvillain's rich colors are a huge asset in that regard. Above all, this issue stands out because of a growing sense of triumph. The creators aren't just building a new Doom Patrol, they're celebrating the legacy of the team and reminding readers what a shame it's been that they've been out of action for so long. In this era of D Rebirth, it's a very fitting approach. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Joshua Williamson | Drawn by Jesus Merino & Carmine Di Giandomenico
This issue wraps up a short, amusing team-up between the Flashes and Captain Boomerang. Coming on the heels of the recent Flash Rogues conflict, it's another reminder that Barry Allen has a unique working relationship with his villains, and they often work just as well cast as reluctant allies than actual enemies. While entertaining, for most of this issue the team-up doesn't give the impression it's going anywhere particularly noteworthy. It doesn't help that Jesus Merino's art in these pages feels plain and lacks the dynamic quality of most Flash issues. But the issue makes a hard swerve in its final few pages. Regular artist Carmine Di Giandomenico comes back, bringing his usual spark of energy. And Joshua Williamson's script become much more emotionally charged as it explores the current dynamic between Barry and the younger Wally West. There seems to be an intentional parallel between this sequence and the return of the original Wally in DC Universe Rebirth last year. This sequence hits all the right notes and proves that there's plenty of ground to cover with both versions of Wally. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Robert Venditti | Drawn by Ethan Van Sciver
It should surprise absolutely nobody that this issue has great artwork by Ethan Van Sciver. We’ve come to expect that from Van Sciver, and he almost always delivers. He was one of the architects of the Green Lantern revival over a decade ago, and he’s extremely well-suited for this book. Whether the story lives up to the art is a little harder to pin down. There’s a scene in this issue where Hal Jordan is so self-aggrandizing that it was honestly difficult to tell if Robert Venditti was treating it as a serious moment or if it was meant for laughs. Either way, it really doesn't make Hal look as awesome as he described himself. While John Stewart and Guy Gardner have their time to shine in the issue, the bulk of these pages are devoted to Kyle Rayner and the unveiling of his new status quo. It seems like an arbitrary step backwards for the character, but it really is hard to complain when the artwork is this good. Whether this is the right direction for Kyle and the book remains to be seen. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Rob Williams | Drawn by John Romita, Jr. & Eddy Barrows
Still trying to get back to a (relative) degree of normalcy following their dust-up with the Justice League, Suicide Squad’s latest is still a bit rough around the edges. For one, the bulk of the narrative is tied directly to that particular event, so much so that casual Squad fans will likely be left to read between the lines. It’s also a rather quick read, spurred by plenty of emotional outbursts but little in the way of actual development. Rob William’s backup seeks to solve that issue with a more focused character look, but even that just circles back to the same events the main story can’t get going. On art, the focus on Harley doesn’t play particularly well to John Romita, Jr.’s talents this go around, his burly style not quite in line with the character’s more fluid physicality. Eddy Barrows’ backup fares better, but again, the issue as a whole reads more like a quick aside than a fully realized chapter. -Jeff
Final Score:
Written by Benjamin Percy | Drawn by Khoi Pham
There’s not really much of a plot in Teen Titans #6. Basically, the team sits around eating pizza and avoiding a visiting reporter before the inevitable crisis pops up. It seems like Benjamin Percy is trying to give Beast Boy the same kind of semi-friendly rivalry with Kid Flash that he used to have with Cyborg in the previous continuity. However, it is very forced and it just isn't working well. The re-introduction of Aqualad has some potential, but it’s pretty convenient that he’s making his debut in the series at the exact moment that the team could really use someone who can breathe underwater. Fortunately, Khoi Pham’s artwork is very good and it does elevate the issue. Pham has a very clean and classic take on the Titans, and his depiction of Aqualad’s powers instantly make him more interesting. There are definitely some promising things happening in this book, but it hasn’t quite come together yet. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Greg Rucka | Drawn by Liam Sharp
The cover to Wonder Woman #15 featured a very arresting image of Diana wracked with insanity and locked away in a psychiatric institution. Sadly, this arc hasn't really exploited that premise to its fullest, treating her incarceration more as a temporary burden to be borne and then cast aside easily enough in this issue. These recent issues haven't done enough to truly convey the hurt and confusion plaguing Diana as she grapples with her fabricated memories. But in other areas this arc continues to succeed admirably. It's strengthened the bonds between Diana and her allies as Diana becomes a source of light around which others rally. And it's done a particularly great job of emphasizing the tragedy of Barbara Ann's situation, as the character finds herself being manipulated back into her villainous ways. In general, Liam Sharp's art isn't quite as strong as it was in the opening story arc. His layouts tend to be plainer and more utilitarian here. But his detailed figures continue to impress, as does his knack for wringing emotion out of subtle facial expressions and body language. -Jesse
Final Score:
Continues
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