DARK CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #7 DC COMICS
And so finally, another year long “Next Big Thing” event comes to an end. Not with a big finale but rather with a one on one before teenage Robin and Deathstroke. And with Dr. Light’s help, the Flash family restore the Multiverse. And the crowd goes wild … yah. (Why yes, that is sarcasm.) That’s the problem with these things, no matter how epic you make a story or how dire you make the circumstances, the story has to end. And yet again, DC proves that when it comes to endings, the bigger and longer the story – the less impactful the ending is. I only hope that the readers who spent big money week after week to keep up on the story through all the mini-series, one-shots, and cross-overs feel rewarded with this ending. Because I don’t. But on the upside, the Multiverse is back and so is the heroes of the Golden Age. So at least that’s something. I give it a 3 out of 10 Grahams.
FLASH #789 DC COMICS
I am always glad to see a writer who gets it and apparently writer Jeremy Adams get the Rogues Gallery. The Pied Piper is back! Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Trickster, Weather Wizard, and Mirror Master are working as the team Flash readers of the 1970’s knew they could be! With magnificent dialog filled with charm and humor and high end art from Fernando Pasarin on pencils and Matt Ryan on inks, the Piper’s words on page one sum it all up, “It’s been too long.”
What we have here is a great starting spot for a newer, brighter Flash universe. Even the Lords of Order tend to agree. Welcome back Flash comics of my childhood, lets hope we can keep this up. I give it an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
STARGIRL THE LOST CHILDREN #2 DC COMICS
The second installment of Stargirl and Emiko’s great journey begin and once again Geoff Johns and Todd Nauck have filled each panel with inside jokes, cameos, and Easter Eggs. Heck, even the name of Chapter 2 (More Fun) is a reference to Green Arrow and the Golden Age Aquaman’s starting point in More Fun Comics. Courtney’s joke about Green Arrow really wanting to be Batman (a frequent joke/criticism back in the day) had me laughing out loud! At least until I saw the Arrow Cave layout! The Arrow Car! The Arrow Plane! The statues of Green Arrow’s Rogues Gallery (including the Dart, Clock King, and the Spider)! The Green Arrows of Other Nations! OMG! Miss Arrowette, they included Miss Arrowette! And the honest to goodness original Seven Soldiers (or do you call the Law’s Legionarres)! No replacements, no retconning. Now this is what I’m talking about!
And the ladies have found the island! An island who’s beach is made of Miraclo! And now that I’ve seen aspects of the villain, I believe the internet speculation might be spot on. Best of all, we finally get our first taste of some of the missing sidekicks! As with Emiko captured it’s up to Wing, Air Wave, Robbie the Robot Dog, and Cherry Bomb to help! This is a love letter to fans of the Golden Age written and drawn by people who know. No doubt about it, 10 out of 10 Grahams!
STARTUP BINGE BOOK #3 SITCOMICS
Sitcomics’ Binge Books are back! And this time, we have the 3 volume of that most unusual speedster, Startup. Scripted by Todd Dezago and drawn by Craig Rousseau, this volume is a well written tale of influencers, what it really takes to be a hero, and the twisted way people think. But by far, the addition to Startup’s Rogues Gallery of Pinstripes makes the issue. An assassin for hire that is sooo high end that he literally stops working when the client runs out of money! Brilliant! Plus we get to meet Startup’s other alter ego, Ms. Banks. And with a couple pages of back up features Super Sleepy and Senor Uva, this is a clever and entertaining comic. I give it 8 out of 10 Grahams.
SUPER SUCKERS BINGE BOOK #3 SITCOMICS
Take one part Vampirella, one part Archie teenage hijynx, and let Darin Henry, Jenn Lloyd, and Kevin Bonani at the script while Jeff Schultz draws it and you have some great independant fun. Vera, Stewart, and the whole gang are back for a third Binge Book. Vampires, psychotic patient kidnapping nurses, and a party at the beach (vampires at a beach? Go figure.) make for some good reading. And while there is some Archie like comparissons that could be made here, the title is more like the Swing With Scooter and Date With Debbie of the late 1960’s – early 1970’s. Either way you look at it, it’s good fun. I give it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
