WESLEY DODDS THE SANDMAN #6 DC COMICS
This dream has ended but hopefully DC can find another. With the Sandman facing off against the man who betrayed he and his family. But this battle affects Wesley’s whole support system. Humphries, Dian, and especially Wesley who can really take a beating. And knowing that this was the last chapter, writer Robert Venditti and artist Riley Rossmo take a moment to spring a few wonderful cameos into the mix. From the cute young Sandy Hawkins to a newly formed super group waiting for Wesley on his back porch. And the creative team did right by the JSA, by including the founding members (minus the Atom). Unfortunately, it seems that my hopes for an on going Sandman title in the vein of Sandman Mystery Theatre has been crushed. Let’s hope the other New Golden Age titles can hold up. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
OUTSIDERS #5 DC COMICS
I find myself a bit annoyed at this story. The cover gave me the idea that we’d have a proper issue with the Planetary Society like in the good old days. And while Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly’s story is interesting, it’s still a Batwoman story with friends. And most of the Gala of Ghouls are Batman villains. The unusual story of “The End” does raise my curiosity but what DC doesn’t seem to realize is that many people really enjoyed the Planetary stories and characters. To introduce a new team filled with Batman characters and sort of cram it into Gotham isn’t what we would like to see. Thanks to the brief Drummer subplot here, I’m giving it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
ADVENTUREMAN GHOSTS LIGHT #2 IMAGE COMICS
Really? A two-parter? That’s all we are going to get this time around. That ain’t right. Especially when you are letting Matt Fraction go all meta-physical and then letting Terry and Rachel Dodson get all abstract on us. And in part two of two, it appears that the villain has won but in doing so has triggered a Brave New World for everyone. Let’s hope that the creative team and Image Comics have another mini-series in them to let us explore this intriguing new world. I give it an 8 out 10 Grahams.
GODZILLA THE OFFICIAL COLORING BOOK
Every now and again, I am given a challenge of reviewing the odd or what many would consider unreviewable. And Titan Books have provided me with one. Really, how does one review a coloring book? Like this … Godzilla the Official Coloring Book does a wonderful job of presenting a variety of images from the history of the Godzilla films. Even in black and white, the variety of page art represents the characters well. Whether it is the classic scene of Godzilla fighting Anguirus from Godzilla Raids Again, to the “derpy” version of Godzilla pupa form from Shin Godzilla, the artists behind these pages are excellent! And while I was unable to locate a Minya (Baby Godzilla) image, most of the other kaiju appear to be represented. Titanisaurs, the Smog Monster, even Gorosarurus breaking out of the earth under the Arc de Triomphe as he did in Destroy All Monsters (stealing the role from Baragon!). The images also range in skill levels with some made for the beginner to the extreme. A terrific book for people who enjoy coloring, are big Godzilla fans, or both. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
