Injustice 2 #43 - A Review

Civil War has broken out in Gorilla City, as Grodd leads a rebellion against King Solovar. Now, to prevent the destruction of what little he has saved since losing his base in The Amazon Jungle, Ra's Al Ghul must lead his Suicide Squad to aid in the battle. Will Ra's new secret weapon tip the balance of power?






Is there anything that speaks more to the power of comics than armies of great apes fighting? I think not. Yet even set apart from that standard Injustice 2 #43 is a darn fine comic.

Tom Taylor's script has everything. Action. Romance. Horror. Comedy. Often all on the same page! Gloriously brought to life by the pencils of Bruno Redondo, the insanity and glory of this story is perfectly completed by the inks of Juan Albarran and the colors of Rex Lokus. If you aren't already reading this series, start. If you are already reading this series, good for you! 

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10.

Injustice 2 #42 - A Review

Returned to Gorilla City with the news of Black Adam's disinterest in an alliance, Damian Wayne soon finds himself trapped in the middle of another struggle for power - one which could spell the end of Ra's Al Ghul's alliance with the rulers of Gorilla City.


I cannot recall laughing harder at a comic than I did at one scene in this issue. Don't worry - I won't spoil the gag. Suffice it to say that I recommend this issue highly, even apart from that much needed laugh, which showcases how this comic and Tom Taylor's writing paired with Daniel Sampere's art and Rex Lokus's colors never ceases to amuse me in some form of fashion.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. 

Detective Comics #967 - A Review

Tim Drake has freed himself from the inter-spatial prison of Mr. Oz. The bad news is that Tim's counterpart from a dark future where he becomes Batman has also escaped into the modern era and he's determined to avert his future by killing the woman responsible for making him become Batman... Kate Kane!

Now, all of the Knights - Tim's name for Batman's team that he's amazed nobody else thought of using before - must stand against a Batman armed with all of Tim Drake's intelligence, technology from twenty years in the future and no qualms about killing.


There's little I can say about this issue I did not already say about the previous chapters of A Lonely Place Of Living. Suffice it to say that James Tynion IV has outdone himself on the script for this story and any fans of the Titans Tomorrow arc from Geoff Johns' Teen Titans will want to check this out. The artwork equals the story in intensity and the only reason not to read this comic if you're any kind of Batman fan is if you're waiting for the trade to get it all in one glorious big gulp.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. 

Injustice 2 #29 - A Review

As Kara, Damian Wayne and Black Adam launch their plan to rescue Diana - the former Wonder Woman - from her Themiscyran prison, Diana is visited by an old foe with an odd request...


I can't show any images from this week's Injustice 2 issue. Partly because Tom Taylor has put enough surprises in this issue relative to the description above that I don't want to spoil anything and partly because all of this issue's failings lie in the artwork.  I'm not saying that Mike S. Miller is a bad artist, but his bright, detail-driven style is a poor match for the tone of Taylor's story here. Some of moments which are meant to be dramatic look goofy as rendered by Miller and the scene depicted on the cover does not happen, even in a metaphorical sense. Fans of the Amazons will want to read this issue anyway, particularly for the final page.

The Final Analysis: 7 out of 10. Good, but not great. 

Injustice 2 #26 (Digital Edition) - A Review

Confined to the royal palace of Khandaq, Kara Zor-El is totally ignorant as to what life on Earth is like beyond what Black Adam has told her. Damian Wayne - currently guesting in the same palace while trying to convince Black Adam to join the cause of Ra's Al Ghul - plans to show her the world. What is Damian's real agenda? Or does he have one beyond trying to offer friendship to another teenager in a tough situation?


Off-hand, I can't recall having read any stories that teamed Superman and Batman's primary teen sidekicks. Batgirl and Supergirl, yes. Robin and Superboy, certainly. But Supergirl and Robin? I can't believe this is the first but I'm certain this issue of Injustice 2 is probably the best.

Tom Taylor's most amazing feat in this series and the previous Injustice comics has been inspiring sympathy for those characters the original games painted in a primarily villainous light. Opinion is divided on Damian Wayne in the fandom but Taylor's portrayal of the character here breeds uncertainty as to the believe that his Injustice incarnation is wholly irredeemable. Of course this could all be a ruse but it is a credit to Taylor's skill as a writer that he can inspire such uncertainty and the character moments featuring Kara and Damian confiding in one another are the high point of the issue.

Mike S. Miller and J. Nanjan are an equally excellent art team. There is a certain sense of clarity to Miller's pencils and inks that is hard to define and Nanjan's colors are bright and lively. Ironically, this is the only flaw of this issue - things look too bright and streamlined for a comic that is primarily set at night.

The Final Analysis: 8 out of 10. 

Nightwing #29 - A Review

Lost within a ring of snow and ice - the second circle of the labyrinth formed out of Gotham City - our heroes find themselves contending with a twisted version of Mr. Freeze and an army of frost giants! Thankfully, Nightwing has arrived on the scene to join the search for Batman, but he faces his own inner-conflict regarding the menace they face. Meanwhile, The Teen Titans meet up with The Suicide Squad, forming a reluctant alliance to get into the maze themselves...


The unfortunate thing about comic-book crossovers is that new readers, attracted by the linking story line, may find themselves turned away from a single chapter due to unexplained references to the book's regular story. This problem plagues Nightwing #29 which makes repeated mention of a villain called Dr. Hurt and Dick Grayson's connection to The Court of Owls. While I am vaguely familiar with this plot-line from Scott Snyder's Batman, Tim Seely doesn't do a very good job of explaining it and it's largely incidental to the action of the issue in any case. Even that much might be confusing for those readers who haven't already read Batman: The Red Death #1, which is more efficient in explaining the basic idea of The Dark Multiverse.

Thankfully, this issue's script makes up for this shortcoming in other ways. Seely's grasp of the characters, for instance, is top-notch. I was particularly gratified to see Killer Croc as being written as something other than a complete idiot, though Damian Wayne is back to being a spoiled brat. Your mileage may vary on if this is an accurate assessment of his character, but it doesn't jibe with what we saw in Teen Titans last week. But whatever - I can forgive a lot simply for the revelation that Harley Quinn and Green Arrow are both pen-and-paper RPG players.


The artwork is a similarly mixed bag. Paul Pelleiter is a good artist but his detail-driven style suffers in the small panels that the story requires. This frequently causes the panels to be cluttered and only the fact that Andrew Hennessy applies his inks so sparingly saves the issue. Even then, the fine details are often lost in the more heavily-shaded panels with a higher saturation of darker colors.

The Final Analysis: 6 out of 10.  Decent enough but it could have been so much better.

Injustice 2 #23 (Digital Edition) - A Review

Once, Alfred Pennyworth brought The Man of Steel to his knees with a modicum of technology and a gentleman's knowledge of boxing. Newly resurrected by The Lazarus Pit, Alfred may have managed something even more impossible - bringing about multiple reconciliations between warring parties. Can it possibly last?


Again, I find myself stunned into silence by this book and again I have to admonish whoever wrote the Comixology blurb for this issue, which spoils the entire story! Indeed, the only reason I've made mention of the return of Alfred The Butler is that the preview images for this issue make it impossible to hide that revelation.

Still, I will hide the rest of the story beyond this first page and hope you trust me when I speak of how powerful it is. Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran and Rex Lokus have outdone themselves in bringing Tom Taylor's script to life, in all of its splendor and horror. There is plenty of both to be had here. Don't take my word for it - read it!

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. A Must Read! 

Injustice 2 #22 (Digital Edition) - A Review

Deep within Ra's Al Ghul's secret sanctuary in the Amazon rain forest, a battle long in coming is about to begin - Bruce Wayne vs. Damian Wayne! Father vs. Son! Meanwhile, Harley Quinn delays her own escape from the stronghold to steal away a moment with Poison Ivy.

I suspect that some of you might be growing tired of reading my glowing reviews of Injustice 2. If that's the case, I suggest you read this book. There is no way to grow tired of it!

Tom Taylor's grasp of these characters and capacity for telling engaging, action-packed stories with them is matched only by Bruno Redondo's detailed pencils, Juan Albarran's exquisite inks and Rex Lokus' eye-catching colors. Together they are one of the World's Finest teams and every issue they release together is a treasure.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. 

Injustice 2 #7 - A Review

Harley Quinn is an unwilling accomplice to the new Suicide Squad. Determined to make things as difficult as possible on her captors, she is surprised when the man in charge - who is not the "worst Batman ever" - agrees to speak with her regarding his plans. Unfortunately, he has far greater leverage over Harley than a bomb in her brain and he means to use it to win her cooperation!


It's difficult for me to discuss this issue without giving away the game completely. Finding an image to use to show off the issue's artwork proved particularly difficult this time around. Still, I am trying to keep the secret identity of The Suicide Squad's new leader a secret, though astute readers may have already guessed it given some of the clues dropped before now.

What can I say then? I love how Tom Taylor writes Harley Quinn as the genius who plays dumb that she is supposed to be. I think he writes the mystery villain remarkably well and with the same complex understanding that he does Harley Quinn. And I think the artwork by Messrs. Sampere, Albarran and Lokus looks fantastic throughout.

The plain and simple truth is that this is one of the best books DC Comics is putting out right now. Even if you aren't a fan of the games that inspired it, this is still worth reading as a fascinating and well-thought-out Elseworlds tale.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. 

Injustice 2 #6 - A Review

The attack on the special prison to hold Superman and the rest of his Regime continues. Naturally, Bruce Wayne had planned several counter measures to contain The Man of Steel. He and his allies will learn too late, however, that the new Batman and his Suicide Squad have a different target in mind...


I should have stopped being surprised by Tom Taylor's writing a while ago. Yet I can't help it. I'm used to his perfect command of the various characters making up the cast of the Injustice world. But how to you prepare for things like Harley Quinn's awesome trolling of the Green Arrow of another universe or the reveal at the end of this issue?  You can't do it!


The artwork is as amazing as the story. Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran and Rex Lokus are all individually masters of their crafts. Together, they build miracles. This is one of the best looking books on the stands and a must-read even for those who haven't eagerly been anticipating the video game's release.

Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. The only downside to this comic is that it's so short. And that today it's distracting me from playing Injustice 2 - The Game! :)

Injustice: Ground Zero #15 - A Review

Back under the spell of Mistah J (albeit one from a parallel Earth), Harley Quinn is unable to help Batman and his otherworldly allies from the parallel Justice League in their raid on Stryker's Island. But Harley isn't entirely helpless and a twist of fate and a little magic may help her save her army... if not herself.


If ever a comic proved that a good inker can make or break a book, it is this latest volume of Injustice: Ground Zero. The difference between the two inkers who worked on this issue is like night and day. One uses a light touch that enhances the original pencils of Derlis Santacruz. The other uses thick lines to outline everything, leaving the finished artwork looking like a coloring book page. Granted, it's a fantastically colored page thanks to Rex Lokus, but it's still distracting and amateurish.


Christopher Sebela's script remains the high point of the series. There's little he can do fight the repetitive feeling within the sections of the story which replicate the action from the original video game Injustice: Gods Among Us. His take on Harley Quinn, however, is pitch perfect, presenting a Harley who only acts dumb and is crazy like a fox.

Injustice: Ground Zero #10 - A Review

As Batman leads a group of Justice League members from another world to recover a weapon they can use against they tyrant Superman from the ruins of Wayne Manor, Harley Quinn leads her own team to break into The Bat-Cave. Their mission? Steal the Batmobile back for Batman. Unfortunately, Damian Wayne is standing in their way.


Jheremy Rappack - who had previously worked on the original Injustice comic - returns to handle the pencils and inks on this issue. Rappack proves a good choice, his gritty style and thick inks suiting the setting of a dark, underground complex. My only complaint - and it is a small one - is that Harley with a white-eye mask just looks strange to me.  Mark Roberts joins J. Nanjan on the color-art duties but you'd never know that two colorists were at work on this title, so seamless is the transition between their respective pages.


Again I must praise Chris Sebela's writing of Harley Quinn. She is silly, yes, but there is a brilliance behind the comedy, such as how she psychoanalyzes Damian Wayne as they are fighting and works that into her taunts to put him off-guard. It's a nice, subtle touch and part of why I enjoy this series so much. (Hey! That rhymed!)

Injustice: Ground Zero #6 - A Review

As Harley Quinn fights her conflicting feelings regarding a new Joker entering her life, her army of protesters wage a more physical battle against Superman's Regime forces. Meanwhile, The Regime has captured Batman... but not the one they expected!


While a solidly written piece of work, Injustice: Ground Zero #6 lacks the luster of previous issues. Half of this is due to the book's intrusion into the story of the original game, when the appeal of the original Injustice comic was that it told us all the stories we didn't see in the five-year gap between the game's prologue and first act. The other half is the lack of Harley's narration in the later part of the book, as the action shifts to focus on The Regime torturing Earth Prime Batman.


While the story may seem somewhat repetitive to those who have played the original game, the visuals of the artwork more than make up for it. Marco Santucci has a great gift for depicting facial expressions and the close-ups in this book look fantastic. The rich colors by J. Nanjan are also worthy of special praise.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #36 - A Review

Zasaz has turned up dead in his cell - a mystery that further convinces Hal Jordan that Sinestro is hiding something within The Regime's new super-prison. Meanwhile, Deathstroke encounters some unexpected resistance in his mission to steal a Motherbox from STAR Labs. It seems The Regime has recruited Metamorpho as a secret security guard and he's more than willing to give the world's greatest mercenary a beating.


I want to like this issue of Injustice more than I did but it suffered from a serious case of deja vu. Sinestro's playing dumb with Hal regarding the constant security breaches around Zasaz has become a running gag.  The problem is that Sinestro playing dumb seems horribly out of character for the former Green Lantern whose biggest crime was arrogance.

I think the ultimate problem is that we're close enough to the ending now there's little room for the sudden surprises that have made this series a delight. So while it's nice to see Metamorpho, the fight between him and Deathstroke falls a little flat since the action of the battle isn't clear. Mike S. Miller illustrates it well enough but there's no explanation for some of that happens. A little more narration might have smoothed things over.  In the end, this comic is merely acceptable rather than excellent - still worth reading, but a disappointment compared to what we're used to seeing on this series.

Nightwing: Rebirth #1 - A Review

Despite Chuck Dixon's Nightwing being one of my favorite series of all time, I haven't been following Dick Grayson's recent adventures that closely. I was unimpressed with the first issue of the New 52 Nightwing series and haven't thought much of what few cameos I've seen of Dick playing the secret agent in Batgirl. I haven't read a single issue of Grayson and was only vaguely aware of Dick's secret identity being outed during the Forever Evil storyline.

Thankfully, Nightwing: Rebirth #1 proves a welcome introduction for readers who don't know Dick Grayson or, like myself just haven't been keeping up on recent events.





There isn't much of a plot to this issue nor is there a lot of action. The story is made up of a series of vignettes, showing Dick saying goodbye to his old life and reclaiming the Nightwing name. There's also some brief scenes involving Dick's enemies in The Court Of Owls and a scene establishing the new Huntress, who was apparently a character in Grayson, before she goes off to star in the new Batgirl And The Birds Of Prey series. Tim Seely does a fantastic job of providing this exposition naturally, without it seeming like he's just throwing out factoids for the newbies.

The artwork is equally efficient. Yanick Paquette instills a sense of motion to every panel - even the ones which just feature two people sitting down talking! This keeps the story moving and exciting, despite a distinct lack of fight scenes. And the color art by Nathan Fairbairn finds the perfect balance between light and dark, as befits the title character.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #26 - A Review

Lured into the open by the death of Alfred Pennyworth, Batman still managed to overcome Superman in single combat. Will he finally end the conflict between them with an act of murder? How will Damian Wayne - now calling himself Nightwing - respond? And what of the rest of the Justice League, who are already en route to save their leader?


There is little I can say about this chapter of Injustice: Year Five that would not spoil the story completely. I can say that Brian Buccellato has crafted an amazing fight scene, which Mike S. Miller and J. Nanjan bring to life perfectly. Beyond that, you'll have to read this issue yourself, if only for the touching coda at the end.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #25 - A Review

Batman has apprehended Victor Zsasz - the serial killer who murdered Bruce Wayne's butler and foster father, Alfred Pennyworth. But Damien Wayne - now Nightwing - wants revenge. Yet Bruce needs Zsasz alive to prove that Superman released the serial-killer and set him upon Alfred as a means of luring Batman out in the open.


Mike S. Miller is in fine form in this week's issue. Many of the pages in this issue's Superman vs. Batman fighting montage are poster-worthy in their scope and quality. And J. Nanjan's color art provides a suitably rich finish to Miller's pencils and inks.


Brian Buccellato offers up an action-packed script. The fight sequences in this issue are amazing and uncharacteristically without dialogue compared to most of Buccellato's stories. This silence only serves to drive home just how serious things have become, for there are no words that need to be said between these two friends turned foes.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #24 - A Review

Alfred Pennyworth is dead and serial-killer Victor Zsasz has been revealed as the culprit. The question of just how Zasaz escaped from Superman's super-prison has yet to be answered. More pressing is the concern that an enraged Batman may expose himself to a wrathful Superman... or maybe even go over the edge in dealing with Zsasz.


The artwork for this issue is astonishing. Marco Santucci's visuals are amazing and the Gothic architecture of Gotham City has rarely seemed so foreboding. Rex Lokus completes the art perfectly with a muted palette of purples and grays.


Brian Buccellato's script proves equally enjoyable. Buccellato is known for his witty dialogue but this issue - largely taken up by a silent sequence in which Batman pursues Zsasz - shows that Buccellato is equally capable of telling a story without words. The whole story is amazing well paced, leading up to a tense cliffhanger in its conclusion.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #14 - A Review

Damian Wayne tracks several of Gotham's Most Wanted to the nearby city of Bludhaven. Never one to ask for help, Robin quickly winds up in over his head. Luckily, Damian has more friends than he knows and an unseen presence is looking out for him.


Mike S, Miller is back in fine form in this week's issue of Injustice. The action of this issue is wonderfully illustrated. And the colors by J. Nanjan prove perfectly chosen.


It is Brian Buccellato's story, however, that proves the real prize. I've never been a big fan of Damian Wayne but he actually seems sympathetic in this issue. And the scene at the end with Superman and Damian bonding is rather sweet even ignoring the horrific implications of just how far both of them have fallen.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five #13 - A Review

Damien Wayne returns home to Gotham City. Partly to confront Alfred on the reasons for his loyalties in the battle to come. But also to protect the city his father once called home from criminals. Criminals like Catwoman and Harley Quinn, who have seemingly abandoned Batman's Insurgency in order to return to their wicked ways.


One wonders how Alfred can still be at liberty in Gotham City, given his known association with Bruce Wayne. Could Superman not yet be so far gone as to go after someone he sees as an innocent or does he just remember the sound thrashing that Alfred gave him when the playing field between them was even by in Injustice: Year One?

It doesn't really matter in the end, but the interplay between all the characters as written by Brian Buccellato brings such questions to mind. There are some truly great character moments here, with Alfred explaining why he believes Batman will always beat Superman and it has nothing to do with him always having a plan or a piece of Kryptonite. It's a nice bit of metatextual commentary on Batman v. Superman as well.


Alas, Mike S. Miller seems to have phoned it in on this issue.  Individual panels are rendered well enough but some of the actual poses and expressions seem a bit off. Damien Wayne appears to be stoned at one point and Catwoman mysteriously seems to don a black thong over her catsuit. The whole issue just looks odd and off-putting!