WEB OF BLACK WIDOW #2 MARVEL COMICS
Unfortunately, the return of the Black Widow to her own title brings us nothing new. Nat is chasing ghost and vengeance from her past in the Red Room. Bucky (sorry, Winter Soldier) show up and some epic fight scenes happen. It appears that while fun to write and draw, the team of Houser and Mooney have run into the same problem as so many others before them. How to move forward with the character without pissing fans off. I give it a 6 out of 10 Grahams.
SECRETS OF SINISTER HOUSE #1 DC COMICS
Starting out in the early 70’s as a horror/love title, called Sinister House of Secret Love, this title quietly change its name after just four issues. And while this one shot incorporates 3 of me favorite things (Copyright reinforcement forcing the return of an old title, anthology comics, and the use of a classic icon image on the cover.) it falls a bit from the high mark I had set for it. Paul Dini comes through as only he can in the Harley Quinn/Zatanna tale and Brian Hill’s Constantine tale reminds us of what a real bastach when he first showed up in the DCU. The other six tales are interesting but don’t seem to jump out at you. However, Robbie Thompson’s Justice League Dark surprize villain is terrific. And artist Tom Raney’s take on him is great. I give it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
BACK ISSUE MAGAZINE #116 TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
The classic monsters have long played a role in the history of comics. Especially during the 1970’s. This issue focases on the those timnes when the monsters stepped out of their little corners of darkness and joined into the real universes of the major comic publishers. Doctor Strang meeting THE Dracula, Superman meeting THE Frankenstein Monster. No issue is left unturned as the talented researchers at Back Issue reach back into the past. With such folks as Michael Eury, Michael Kronenberg, and Marc Buxton, these flashback are top notch! I give it an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
