METAMORPHO THE ELEMENT MAN #2 DC COMICS
A big shout out to writer Al Ewing for infusing his new take on the classic hero with influences from the past! Incorporating not only Urania the Element Girl but the Mad Mod as well! And actually providing us that Metamorpho is not just another wannabe Metal Man as he mixes his molecules to become a living glow stick! And it was a nice touch that the Mad Mod admitted that he just couldn’t keep up with this new generations ability to overload algorithims. Add in Yesterday Woman (remember Tomorrow Woman from the JLA?) Throw in some cryptic dialog and a cameo by Vandal Savage and this is just all around fun. Some of the page layouts and certain poses do remind me of the legendary Ramona Fradon’s art from the original series. So, good on artist Steve Lieber for recapturing that. I couldn’t be any happier with a title right now. Any title who can put together a connection between Vandal Savage and Java is ok in my book. Any chance of a cameo by Gnarrk from the original Teen Titans series? He’s a caveman out of time too! 10 out of 10 Grahams.
BLACK CANARY BEST OF THE BEST #3 DC COMICS
Tom King knows how to pull off a cameo in his stories and he wastes no time in this issue. As Ted (WILDCAT) Grant appears in Dinah’s corner. And his interview on page one is priceless. But again this issue is all about the family legacy of characters in the DC Universe. Heroes and villains from the Golden Age interacting with heroes and villians from the Silver Age. And at the end of the tunnel is everyone reaching out to help save the original Black Canary. Even Batman finds himself coerced into helping under protest. Artist Ryan Sook knows his way around a fighting ring but can also highlight a sonic cry. It’s titles like these that give me hope that I will get through the Absolute universe and the All In universe because at the heart of it all is stories and storytellers that know what DC should be about. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
LIMITED COLLECTORS’ EDITION #48 DC COMICS
And speaking of this week’s nostalgic feeling coming from DC Comics, how about this big ole beauty. This oversized collection of the epic races between Superman and the Flash hit our newsstands in 1976 and provided us comic enthusiasts with some good fun. Aside from two of the many faceoffs these two speedsters would have, we also got those bonus goodies that DC Comics in the 1970’s was full of. Multipage plans of the Fortress of Solitute, a round of Flash Facts, superhero crossword puzzles and make it yourself 3D Dioramas! And most importantly of all, the How to Draw pages which truly were an inspiration to younger artists! I wonder when Carmine Infantino was asked to do these, if he realised what affect they would have on a whole new generation of artist? I can honestly say, that this is how I learned how to draw speedlines behind runners! And while I am enjoying this little flashback to my past, I do have to shake a finger at DC. As I held this facsimile edition in my hands, something felt off. A trip to the archives showed that they didn’t get the size exactly right. A little short and a tiny bit less wide overall but I guess I shouldn’t complain as it has been a few decades and I’m lucky to have this. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
WONDER WOMAN #17 DC COMICS
Writer Tom King shows us again that he knows how to write a multicharacter battle. More importantly, he shows us how the Wonder Girls have grown into a real fighting team. As they take down the cadre of Wonder Woman’s Rogues Gallery while Diana tells her new daughter stories of her father while sculpting his likeness. And while it is told well and Daniel Sampere’s art is exceptional, I’m still a little lost by the Fury storyline. What I do know is that our villain has no where left to turn except the White House. And now, hunkered down in the Oval Office, he awaits his fate. Ignoring that and staring at that wonderful (No pun intended.) cover, this one is pretty good. 7 out of 10 Grahams.
