The comics reviewed are chosen by David not by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT management
or staff. The opinions expressed are his alone. If you have an opposing view you
are welcome to respond to David directly by Email at the address above.
Title: SERENITY: FIREFLY CLASS 03-K64 - LEAVES ON THE WINDIssue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Creator: Based on the TV Series created by Joss Whedon
Writer: Zack Whedon
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Karl Story
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Michael Heisler
Cover Artist: Dan dos Santos
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction - Space Western
This is the continuation of the stories based on the FIREFLY TV series. At this
point in their history the Alliance has cemented their dominance of the galaxy.
In the text on the inside cover we get filled in about the crew. The captain
Malcom and his crew are refuges partly because they have revealed that the
Reavers, a band of cannibal pirates, were actually the result of an Alliance
experiment. Now everyone is searching for them. The Alliance wants to shut them
down forever while the resistance wants Malcom to lead them. The comic begins
interestingly with a media broadcast that is basically point/counterpoint
debate. One is very pro Alliance - debasing any point of view counter to the
government line while the other is more advocate of open protest and
investigation into the truth behind the Reavers, among other things. It sets the
mood for attitudes on both sides of the conflict which is coming to a boil. Of
course the alliance has more than just the usual military resources to call on.
They have offered a reward to every known criminal and bounty hunter to get
Malcom Reynolds. This first chapter shows the people behind each side and how
they are martialing the resources they have to find the Firefly and its crew.
Meanwhile there is a difference of opinion on the Firefly about whether to lay
low any longer. Then there is the fact that Zoe is about to give birth. Her
condition may change things for the immediate future. The final scene is the
real kicker as we get to see a former crew member get pulled into the plot. This
is definitely a comic for die-hard fans of the show and the subsequent comics.
If this is your first exposure to these characters you will have a different
point of view but will still be able to follow the plot after getting a fix on
the members of the crew. It is decent space opera and has impressive art. The
plot moves along nicely and draws you in. I think it is a good first issue.
Title: FURIOUSIssue Number: 1
Title Story: Life's a Bitch
Title Arc: Fallen Star
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Bryan J.L. Glass
Artist: Victor Santos
Letters: Nate Piekos
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
This is a different take on the super hero than what we are used to. The
traditional super hero hides his identity to protect his loved ones. Furious
hides her identity because if people find out who she is they would hate her. In
her former identity she was a media star. But what the media builds up it can
also tear down. Without giving away too much I will say she has done things that
have turned her public against her and cause her to change her appearance so she
can still function in public without being recognized. But it is not only the
public that finds her past repulsive. She does as well. Then her life changed
again. At some time in the recent past she gained super powers. She is the sole
powered being in a world that is otherwise like our own. She has seized the
opportunity to somehow atone for her past by doing what she feels is the right
thing - bringing furious justice down on bad guys. But even trying to do that is
a problem. A while back she rescued some college kids and brutally beat their
abusers. She is the darling of the new media while others are painting her as a
vigilante that went too far. The story is about the constant internal conflict
she has about who she was and what she is trying to become. It is a very
different story that gets you thinking about the responsibility that comes with
power. I found it to be fascinating. In this issue we see many contrasts and
Furious, the name the media dubbed her with, is trying to stop a mother who
kidnapped her own son and is in a high speed chase. The question is can she
contain her rage to concentrate on saving the young boy rather than venting her
rage at the mother who is endangering him? How can she redeem herself in her
own mind? The art is very dynamic with lots of varied panel arrangements and
perspectives. While it is not altogether a pleasant story it is powerful and
holds your interest right to the end. It is a worthwhile comic to check out.
Title: BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUALIssue Number: #2
Title Story: Week One
Publisher: DC
Creator: Bob Kane
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Doug Mahnke with Pat Gleason
Inkers: Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Tom Nguyen, Mark Irwin, Mick Gray &
Doug Mahnke
Colors: Tony Avina
Letters: Dezi Sienty & Taylor Esposito
Cover Artist: Mike McKone & Chris Peter
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
If you look at the cover of this annual you will probably notice that the
"Robin" in this story is the original, Dick Grayson. This series has turned into
a Batman team-up comic lately and for the annual Tomasi has decided to tell the
story of Dick's first week as the Caped Crusader's partner. The framing sequence
revolves around a package that Damian left behind in his secret Robin Cave
hidden in the ceiling of a room in Wayne Manor. It is addressed to Dick as
payback for having to listen to the "long boring story" of Dick's first week as
Robin. The discovery is made by Bruce and so he asks Dick over to give it to him
and explain why Damian did this long-term planning. The rest is flashback to
that time in Dick's life and the issue concludes eventually with him opening the
package to find a rather appropriate gift. This New 52 version of Robin's debut
is a fun story. After months of training the first night for Robin to accompany
Batman on patrol has finally arrived. Dick has his own ideas about his costume
but soon learns Batman's first rule - do as he says, completely and without
hesitation. As you might expect that first night does not live up to Dick's
expectations. When he could not stand being more of a spectator than a partner
he crossed the line and got a big reprimand. It seems at first that the
partnership may end before it really begins. You can see where this is heading
and probably could write it yourself. Dick finally takes some initiative that
redeems himself in Batman's eyes as they face off against a gang of thieves
headed by an ugly beast known as Tusk. The story is not only one of acceptance
but also once again shows that no matter how clever the Boy-Wonder thinks he is
Batman is two steps ahead. As Dick finishes relating the story from his point of
view to Bruce and Alfred he finally opens the package and that is the pay off.
It is all wrapped up nicely with a tribute to the fallen son. I really enjoyed
this comic from start to finish. It is a self-contained story that is not tied
in to the latest ongoing arc in the Bat books. The art is splendid from start to
finish. If you are a casual Batman reader and just like to read decent stories
on their own, this is the one to get.
Title: WORLD'S FINEST ANNUALIssue Number: 1
Title Story: The Adventures of Robin and Supergirl
Publisher: DC
Writer: Paul Levitz
Artist: Diogenes Neves
Inker: Marc Deerining
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Dezi Sienty
Cover Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino & Jason Wright
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
While the monthly issues of WORLD'S FINEST are about Huntress and Power Girl on
Earth 1 this annual takes place back on Earth 2 in the days where they were
Robin and Supergirl respectively. It is some time prior to the invasion by
Apokolips but after Helena's mother has died. The annual is divided into three
chapters. The first follows Helena in her role as Robin working with Batman to
break up an underground brothel. It is a typical adventure for the two and at
this point in her career it teaches Helena a lesson about willing victims of
crime. In the second chapter Kara is the one who learns something but it is a
gut-wrenching tragedy for her. A chance encounter with the son of a foreign
diplomat begins a new friendship but an explosion at a nearby building will end
in tragedy despite Supergirl's best efforts. The final chapter gets to the
conflict as noted by the cover illustration. Robin teams up with Supergirl to
investigate the blast when the video of the event reveals something that should
not be there. They not only discover who is behind it all but as promised have
to battle Wonder Woman before it ends in a surprising revelation. Like the
BATMAN AND ROBIN annual this is pretty much a self-contained story though it
leaves a plot detail that could be a factor later either in the regular issues
or in EARTH 2. It is a good enough story though the clichéd devise of having
heroes fight each other was old ages ago. The art is decent and the characters
are as well. While it is not as compelling as some stories it is entertaining
and well-constructed. It is not just thrown together as an excuse to have an
annual to print.
Title: ALL STAR WESTERNIssue Number: 27
Title Story: The Unforgiving Truth
Publisher: DC
Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Artist: Moritat
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover Artists: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Norm Rapmund & Michael Atiyeh
Price (USD): $3.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Western/Super Hero
I have read a few issues of this comic and decided to see why Superman was guest
starring in this issue. It turns out that Jonah Hex has travelled forward in
time to a period evidently prior to current continuity of Forever Evil. He
encounters Superman which is just another wonder for him to behold in this place
where he should not be. The first part of the issue is nothing more than the two
meeting and discussing things. Superman explains how he came to this planet and
though he has amazing powers he cannot fits everything wrong with the world.
Though he does not know how to help Jonah get back to his time he promises to
ask others who might be able to help. The main plot has Jonah back with his
travelling companion, Gina, who suggests that while they are here he might want
to visit a place that could be of interest. It is the Metropolis Museum that
currently has exhibits on the old west. To his surprise there is an entire room
with artifacts dedicated to... Jonah Hex. Imagine going to the future and seeing
things about your life. Some are true and others are the stuff of pulp fiction.
There is one particular item in the exhibit however that is very unnerving and
will set Jonah off to do things he may regret later. This is an interesting
interlude for this comic. While it is not a Western at this point it follows the
path of the main hero as he seeks his true place in the world. Perhaps he will
find it in this time or perhaps he will get back to things more familiar. At
this point it is not clear what direction the story will take. I did not find
this story all that compelling. Fans of western comics, even with the bizarre
Hex as part of the action, may find this strays too far from the premise of the
title. For me the art is not exceptional. While the finishes are decent the
pencil and ink work seems crude with rough edges. If this was my first sample of
this title it would not be enough to get me to keep buying it. You may feel
differently.
Title: SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIALIssue Number: 4
Title Story: Titans
Publisher: DC
Creator: Based on the TV show on WB
Writer: Bryan Q. Miller
Artist: Cat Staggs
Colors: Carrie Strachan
Letters: Saida Temofonte
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero
This is another comic I have not sampled for a while. Rather than try to catch
up with any ongoing plot I decided to try this "special" mainly because of the
cover illustration. As you would infer from the title this series carries
forward the continuity from the WB TV show in what they call Season Eleven.
While some of the characters did appear on the show before it ended most in this
issue are new to me. I was delighted to find this story is all about the
SMALLVILLE version of the Teen Titans. We have Conner "Superboy" Kent, Blue
Beetle, Ms. Martian, Arrowette and the big surprise - the Wonder Twins! They are
being mentored by Jay Garrick who is of course the Flash of the Justice Society.
The story opens with the team trying to contain and capture Doctor Phosphorous.
While the teens do their best it seems that Jay is not at all pleased with how
they handled things. While he and Conner have heated words about their
performance we know Jay is in it for the long haul, partly as a tribute to a
fallen hero we are familiar with. Part of the plot deals with interaction
between the teens in their down time. But the crux of the story comes later when
we find out who is behind Phosphorous' break out and what her real game plan is.
Since this is a special it is designed to be self-contained and in the end the
kids prove they can handle circumstances even more intense than the botched
first conflict. Conner seems to be the central character of the group and so the
focus is on his relationships and his past and how that relates to the villain
they eventually defeat. I was very much a fan of the WB TV series right from the
start and this seems like a logical expansion of that universe. It even has an
appearance of Superman at the end. The art is fairly decent making it a good
read without distracting with mistakes. I recommend this issue if you are
curious to see where SMALLVILLE might have gone if the show was still on today.
*****
TRIVIA CONTEST!!!! WIN REAL PRIZES!!!!!
If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
Email to me at ComicBkNet@aol.com and you could win the prize. The first six
correct answers will be assigned a number and a roll of the dice will determine
the winner. You should put your real name in your message so we know who you
are. Prizes must be claimed at our store within 30 days of winning. The prize
will be a $10 credit slip, which will be redeemable for merchandise at regular
retail or in-store ongoing specials only. Only one prize per person will be
allowed per every 4 weeks. I will be the sole judge of the correct answer even
if more than one answer could be correct. Submit only one answer per Email
please but guess as often as you like.
Last week's trivia question:
What group of kids debuted in DC's STAR SPANGLED COMICS #7?
It was Kirby's NEWSBOY LEGION that made their first appearance way back then.
The winner by the dice is Mike Dooley.
Here is your no prize question:
"We Are the World" raised over $60 million for charity and featured the voices
of many stars in 1985 including Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bruce
Springsteen and Michael Jackson, among others. The question is what was the name
of the band that played the music on this multi-award winning song?
Toto was the studio band for "We Are the World."
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which comic does OVERSTREET list as the first BAXTER PAPER as well as the first
deluxe format comic?
Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.
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