I'm Published! I'm Published!! I'm Published!

HERE IT IS!!!
My first published work. NOVA CHRISTMAS LINK

The NOVA619 fanfiction site accepted my script and the story is finally here.

They also accept me as a co-editor last week. So this has been a Very Merry Christmas for me.

I hope Santa treats you all with a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday
Season this year.

Stay Safe,
-Ally

MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Holidays to all

I'm currently a member of the NOVA619 Fanfiction group, and this is our Christmas postcard
that I would like to share with you.

Pencils by talented Raul Salinas
Ink and colors by Darren Blackburn


We also have a webcomic Christmas Story with Nova that will be up tomorrow at Cosmicbooknews.com. I'll be traveling so I thought I'd at least post the link for the last page and you can enjoy it tomorrow.


Last page before Christmas story link

Have a very safe and Merry Christmas!

Allyson Attic

DC COMICS PRESENTS : BATMAN - BAD #1 Collects Legend of the Dark Knight 146 147 148 179 LOTDK

BAD: {Writer: Doug Moench, Artist: Barry Kitson, Separations: Digital Chameleon, Colorist: James Sinclair, Editors: Harvey Richards & Andrew Helfer}
Rating 3 out of 5

BAD wasn't bad enough to be called good, or...um...good enough to be called BAD.



The writer, Doug Moench, is great when it comes to sound effects, but the title makes you want more. Just like his book "Book of the Dead," with that awesome title you need an awesome story, or it falls flat. {Link to Review}

Some of BAD I did enjoy, like Batman's (Bruce Wayne's) interaction with the psychiatrist, but there wasn't enough BADassness to give the title of "BAD" to it.  The story over all wasn't as exciting as Prey with Hugo Strange as the psychiatrist that Moench also wrote.  The art was pretty good but no grand splash pages, and the ending was just Meh.

There are more spoilers further below to BAD in red, but there is a second story in this trade paperback called FULL CIRCLE.
{Writer: A J Lieberman, Artist: Greg Scott,Colorist: Lee Loughridge, Letterer: Clem Robins, Editors: Matt Idelson and Nachie Castro }
Rating 1 out of 5
Biggest waste of paper, that I've seen in a long time. Batman shows up on the last page assessing the scene, all the pages before lead up to it... AND it wasn't anything you haven't seen before. It was basically a story of the development of a dull bad guy. I didn't care for the art either. I didn't include it in the overall rating because I feel it would bring the TPB rating too low, even for BAD.

Some SPOILERS for BAD general plot:

Batman comes across a criminal, named Jordy, with a split personality.  He has a good side and a bad side. The bad side generally likes to do really bad stuff, like get even with those around him to a point of killing them. Batman sees a psychiatrist for help in capturing Jordy.  The psychiatrist asks questions that could pertain to him as well as Jordy, since he lives two separate lives, one as Batman and one as Bruce Wayne.  Making Bruce/Batman doubt his own motives and sanity.

Superman / Batman : Sorcerer Kings TPB single Issues 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 Review

Rating 4 out of 5

You get 4 full stories in one TPB but they range from great to meh and I'm not sure if any will make it into continuity, especially the streamline continuity we have now in the DC universe {rolleyes}.

The stories are as follows:
 
1. "Who Would Win?"- Only 15 pages long in issue 78, but full of fun. Batman and Superman face off. Rating 4.5 out of 5
Writers: Joe & Jack Kelly, Artist: Ed Benes, Colorist: Pete Pantazis, Letterer: Swands, Associate Editor: Rex Ogle, Editor: Eddi Berganz

2. A World of Their Own - Only 8 pages long in issue 78. Has Huntress and Power Girl version of the S/B pair, It was kinda of a downer and felt unresolved. Rating 2.5 of 5.
Writer: Amanda McMurray, Art: Brett Booth, colors: Andrew Dalhouse, Letters: Swands

3.Worlds' Finest - Two issues long, Issues 79-80. Batman, Robin, and Superman from year One Million chase a time traveling criminal who runs to the past only to meet up with Batman (Bruce), Robin(Dick), and Superman (Clark). Rating 3.3 out of 5
Writer:  Chris Roberson, Artist: Jesus Merino, Colorist: Blond, Letterer: Swands

4. SORCERER KINGS - Four issues, Issues 81-84, This story is great! Rating 4.5 out of 5. Medieval Batman from the future recruits Superman from current day to help him correct what will be a pivotal point in time, while Batman of current day searches for Superman with the help of The Shadowpact. A good deal of Magic is involved.
Writer: Cullen Bunn, Penciller: Chriscross, Inker: Marc Deering, Colorist: Brad Anderson, Letterer: John J Hill

Hold on to your hat for the spot on Cameos in Sorcerer Kings:

Phantom Stranger
Blue Devil
Ragman
Warlocks Daughter
Detective Chimp
Doctor Occult
Felix Faust
Blackbriar Thorn
Brother Blood
Morgaine Le Fey
Klarion The Witch Boy (current)

Creeper (Alternate future version)

Klarion The Warlock(future)
Teekl (Klarion's cat)
Traci 13
Jason Blood/Etrigan
Arthur Curry
Stanley Dover and his Monster
Firestorm (alternate future version)
            AND

Batwing as a dragon.




SPOILERS for Sorcerer Kings:

The first time I read the story it was the Monthly issues and I had a long enough gap between issues it was hard from me to get into what was going on by the next issue and the action scenes I had trouble following, BUT when I read them all together it was a different story and I enjoyed it very much and with the action scenes when I followed the Sword of Superman they went a lot better.
Some of the things I didn't like is the future characterization of the Creeper as a bad guy, I just don't believe he would turn, but I got over it pretty fast.
Future Batman had a new partner called Nina, that was a change of pace from the brightly colored Robins, but I liked her from the beginning, even when she transforms into a ghoul.

With all that you get out of this trade, I think it's more then worth the price. Amazon currently has it for $13.94 new.

BATMAN: Legends of the Dark Knight BLINK 156 157 158 Action Comics 847 DC Comics presents TPB

RATING 3.3 out of 5

It wasn't bad but wasn't great either. The DC Presents BATMAN: Blink TPB actually has two complete stories. Both written by Dwayne McDuffie. One is actually a Superman story with no Batman in it. 

1. BLINK: Legends of the Dark Knight 156-158 Rating 3.4 out of 5
Penciller: Val Semeiks, Inker: Dan Green, Colorist: James Sinclair, Letterer: Kurt Hathaway, Seperations by Digital Chameleon, Editor: Andy Helfer

BLINK was well written but the story itself was unmemorable. I would say it wasn't very memorable at all, because I had read it once before and completely forgot about it.  The plot has Batman teaming up with a blind grifter who's an eye witness to a serial murder. The blind grifter has a special talent of being able to see through the eyes of someone else after he has touched them.


2. INTERMEZZO: Action Comics 847 Rating 3 out of 5
Art and Color: Renato Guedes, Letterer: Travis Lanham, Ass Editor: Nachie Caskra, Editor: Matt Welson.

INTERMEZZO was very bland. Ma and Pa Kent are worried about Clark because he has been missing, and Pa Kent remembers a adventure he had with Clark that they kept secret from Ma Kent.

I liked the art in the Blink better, I think its because of the colors of James Sinclair, also the story had some suspense and the idea of a blind grifter that could see through others eyes was intriguing, but this would not be a story I would recommend as a "must have".  If the DC Presents series was to showcase McDuffie's writing I wouldn't have suggested it for that either.

BATMAN : Legends of the Dark Knight : The Demon Laughs 142 143 144 145 TPB Review

RATING 4 out of 5:
Writer: Chuck Dixon, Penciller: Jim Aparo, Inker: John Cebollero, Colorists: Noelle Giddins, James Sinclair, Letterer: Bill Oakley, Editor: Andy Helfer, Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards

CHUCK DIXON!!! What else do I need to say?
Okay...well maybe a little more.
Oh how Oh HOW... I wish he was back at DC, writing for the characters I love. Dixon knows these characters and knows how to tell a story. Alright...I'm done...oops one more....DIXON!!!Come BACK!!!

Cough cough...I think I'm good now....

The Demon Laughs is mostly a stage for Joker. All the other characters are just cameo's circling around the master. The covers of the single issues are awesome. The interior art is passable, no two page splashes, mostly just story, but Aparo's facial expressions for the Joker are great.

The Plot: Joker is recruited by Ra's Al Ghul in his plan to reshape the world into his view of Utopia. It is all that Batman can do to track these two down to stop them before these partners in crime
 succeed.

SPIOLERS (minor):

Good ol' Ra's really got more then what he bargained for when he decided to use Joker in his plans. Joker "doesn't care if he wins or loses," he just want's part of the game. 

Ra's playing the straight man to Joker's high jinx's was perfect. After all, Ra's is uptight, straight laced, and arrogant, a great foil for all of Joker's one liners. 

The biggest problem I have with this story is the same problem I have with all of these types of plots.  Whether it is Ra's Al Ghul or Lex Luther...recruiting Joker.  I have trouble believing that these particular straight men would actually illicit help from Joker.  Ra's is a maniacal master mind in his own standing.  WHY would he break anyone out of Arkham for help, when they couldn't break themselves out of Arkham...etc?

The other thing is that it is mostly a Joker story...not much of a Batman story, but even with that, while reading... I came to want more Ra's/Joker panels just to see Jokers high jinxes with Ra's.

BATMAN : THE LONG HALLOWEEN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Mini TPB Review

Rating 4.9 out of 5

Originally published in 1997 this mini still has kick and eye appeal.
It's a staple of Batman fandom.  If you start a question asking "What Batman/Bruce Wayne story's should I read?"...this one indubitably comes up.  There are, of course,  nay sayer's of this story but we'll get into that in the spoilers.

Jeph Loeb created a wonderful work of mystery in this mini and Tim Sale...sold it. Tim Sale really knows how to tell a story with his craft.  Also, let's not forget Gregory Wright who did the colors, the coloring brought out the drama of the story.    With the holiday's coming up this is a good time for DC to reprint the Trade Paperback.  The leaves falling outside my window and the moody weather helps with the tone of the story.

The Long Halloween is about a killer nicknamed Holiday because he kill's on holiday's starting with Halloween.  In the background of the story you have Captain Gordan and District Attorney Harvey Dent trying to fit their family's into their life of fighting crime.  The story has tons of wonderful cameos from the villain elites of Gotham city as it travels from one holiday to the next. I've got to admit the twist and turns at the end of the story did throw me.

Cameo's include:

Calender Man
Joker
Catwoman
Scarecrow
Mad Hatter
Poison Ivy
Riddler
Solomon Grundy
Two Face
The Falcone mobster family

It really is a great read just for the amount of story you get with all these characters.

SOME SPOILERS:

My biggest peeve and the main reason I can't give it a 5 out 5, is that it takes Bruce 13 months to solve the crime.  I mean....come on... this is Batman...it shouldn't have took him but a couple of days... max. I also have a problem with Riddler being portrayed as a deuce. All the other villians came out looking really villianey but Riddler lack any evil sparkle.

Otherwise it's a awesome story.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST 2011 Vol 2 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

RATING 4.5 out of 5

This is the second half  and the conclusion of the Justie League: Generation Lost storyline which has been a great ride from start to finish.

You don't need the Brightest Day storyline at all. The only connection to Brightest Day was Max Lord's Mission from the White Lantern and it was only a minor subplot that was handled inside these issues.



 
In the Brightest Day main storyline his mission is barely even mentioned or what he did to assigned and that he succeeded in his mission,  which you also see in this mini. If any thing the Brightest Day storyline needs these issues to make that storyline feel complete.

You do need Vol 1 which I also reviewed(link).

Judd Winick did a awesome job...with this storyline and I'm not sure how much of the plot belongs to Keith Giffen, but Giffen is a master story teller that gave Winick an awesome story to tell.  The story revolves around the defunct Justice League International which was a series that Keith Giffen was the main writer.

SPOILERS:

YEA!...Batman shows up, in issue 22 of the series. I do love Batman. What's even better is that he doesn't steal the show. He was part of the original Justice League International, so it was great to have him on board.

Winick didn't let him steal the essence of the story away from the characters that started it. In the end, it was the team that started the series that resolved it, and that's how a story should wrap up.

This was a great read.


Justice League : Generation Lost Vol 2 Brightest Day
Writer : Judd Winick
Pencils: Joe Bennett, Aaron Lopresti, Fernando Dagnino
Inks: Jack Jadson & Ruy Jose, Matt Ryan, Raul Fernandez
Colors Hi-Fi
Letters: Sal Cipriano, Swands, John J Hill
Covers: Cliff Chiang, Dustin Nguyen, Kevin Maguire, Aaron Lopresti
Editors: Rex Ogle & Brian Cunningham

Web Comics are COOL

Hi All,

I've started a new blog about Web Comics. It's really for me, so that I can keep track of Web comics I like, but I thought I'd share it as well.

I haven't advertised it yet anywhere and I thought I'd give you guys a first look. It's still really under construction, but it's a start.

WEBCOMICSARECOOL.BLOGSPOT.COM (link)

Thanks,

Ally A

BATGIRL: THE FLOOD includes issues 9 10 11 12 13 14 2010

Rating 4.4 out of 5

Full of action and full of fun.  It's a lighter comic then the grim and gritty Batman series but it still has it's drama.  Bryan Q. Miller gives the best dialogue for the extraordinary circumstances that he puts Batgirl Stephanie Brown into.  Stephanie Brown has become just as witty as Dick Grayson was in the Nightwing series.

The trade paperback contains three complete stories of Batgirl Stephanie Brown:
The Flood: Issues 9-12, The Calculator turns the locals into techno zombies.
Trust: Issue 13, Batgirl battles Clayface and teams up with Detective Gage.
Terror In the 3rd Dimension: Issue 14, Supergirl comes to town for a visit and they team up to fight Dracula.

Reviews of the separate story lines are below:

Batgirl #9-#12 The Flood
Writer: Bryan Q Miller, Penciller: Lee Garbett, Inker: Jonathan Glapion and Richard Friend, Colorist: Guy Major, Letterer:Travis Lanham, Cover: Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Editors: Michael Siglain and Harvey Richards

Rating 4.5 out of 5
This story has a couple of firsts. The first appearance of Johnny C. the future Gray Ghost. Also a first  with Proxy her new I.T. person when Oracle is out of the office. Not a first..., but It also has some awesome "Oh Crap...how does she get out of that" cool moments.

Spoilers and continued review if you don't want to be spoiled skip to the review in Blue:

Calculator decides to take some revenge on Oracle.  To do that he turns Gotham citizens into techno Zombies. Anyone connected to a electronic device gets Zombiefied (cell phones, TV, web, etc) and they are instructed to capture Oracle and take out Batgirl. You think at first this is bad as Zombie schoolmates and teachers come after you, but what ever is bad could always get worse when the local hero's become under the influence. See.. this  is where the "Oh Crap" comes into play.

BATGIRL #13 Trust

 Writer: Bryan Q Miller, Art:Pere Perez,  Colorist: Guy Major, Letterer:Travis Lanham, Cover: Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Editors: Michael Siglain and Sean Ryan

Rating 3.9 out of 5 

This is still a cool issue with some action in it. Batgirl bonds with the local Detective while capturing Clayface.

BATGIRL #14 Terror in the 3rd Dimension Review

Writer: Bryan Q Miller, Penciller: Lee Garbett, Inker: Trevor Scott
Colorist: Guy Major, Letterer:Travis Lanham, Cover: Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Editors: Michael Siglain and Sean Ryan
Rating 4.5 out of 5

Pure FUN.  Nothing cerebral about it...but who cares. It's so Great... just to have a FUN comic.  Bryan Q Miller is a master at telling Stephenie's story.  I hope he NEVER leaves this series.  I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.  It was good laughter...I was laughing with my heroes NOT at my heroes.   This story was wrapped up in one issue, so if you don't have any of the Batgirl/Stephanie issues, you could pick this one up for a fun ride and not invest in another....but I bet you will.

Review WITH Spoilers

VAMPIRES...I love a good Vampire story...but lately you can't swing a stick without hitting one.  They've become a staple of TV.  There's Vampire Dairies, True Blood, Being Human, and the newest show, "The Gates."

THAT's just the shows that are currently produced.

In reruns, you have Buffy, Angel, Moonlight, Forever Knight, Kindred, and one that I wish to see again but haven't in a long long time, Dark Shadows.

OH... and let's not get started with what's in the Movie Theaters.
  
They seem to be just as prevalent in comics.

NOT that this is a bad thing.

BUT HOW...Oh how.... CAN you have a NEW take on the same OLD OLD OLD Story.
Whatever it is...it's been done.  Hasn't it?

NOPE....and Bryan Q Miller actually came up with something different and FUN.

You see...there's this scientist (refreshingly not crazy), who had a lab overload with his experiment. He was working on a way to generate "Hard Light" (force fields) to create a three dimensional construct that could hold an image that was projected onto it. This is not that hard of a concept for sci-fi fans. We've seen it before, on Star Trek: Voyager, with the EMH Doctor.

The lab happened to be right next door to the campus theater, where Stephanie Brown(Batgirl) and Lana Lang(Supergirl) are watching a old black and white horror film with Dracula which had been redone in 3D. The blast from the lab only lasted a second, but since film runs at 24 frames per second, this releases 24 black and white "Draculas"...Blah blah blah...who run "Amuk Amuk Amuk" in Gotham City.

Control rods can destabilize their photon matrices when done at high impact. This is Miller's .. Wah Lah ...for stake through the heart.

Now LET the 'Buffy' in all of us out and just sit back and ENJOY.

There is a two page spread of the girls staking black and white Dracula's that is pricelessly funny. One 'Dracula' had tried to get away on a Segway.

This was the best Girls night out I've read in a long time.

Because the next issues are going to have more grittier stories, Miller will be teamed up with Dustin Nguyen on pencils.  I'm looking forward to this storyline... but I hope Batgirl doesn't become too toughen.. too soon, I'm enjoying the current character



Publisher: DC Comics
Jun - Dec 2010

BIRDS OF PREY Vol 1: ENDRUN 2010 Issues 1 2 3 4 5 6 review

RATING 3.8 out of 5       Jam-packed-full of action.  It doesn't quite meet expectations, only because the previous Birds of Prey series with Gail Simone was so awesome, but this was a good start for the Birds.  The story was good and had quite a bit of intrigue.  These issues have the Brightest Day banner on them, but that is only a minor subplot, so don't feel obligated to purchase the Brightest Day mega mini to enjoy this storyline.  The main storyline is completed within these issues, or this one TPB, Endrun. 

There is plenty of cleavage in this series both above and below, but it doesn't take away from the badassness of the women. There are two new members to join the team, Hawk and Dove. I like Hank Hall, aka Hawk, (I seem to be alone when it comes to that). I think it's nice to have a little eye candy for us girls too, and I like his stubborn streak. To quote Oracle, "The guy punched a tank for having the gall to point it's cannon at him."

I think the main problem that fans are having is that it doesn't have the newness of the old series. In the old series the Birds were trying to prove that they were equals with the other hero groups and that they didn't need them to get the job done, but they succeeded  in those previous issues, so there is really nothing to prove in this series, other then getting the job done. 

I enjoyed the camaraderie, and seeing this group of characters back together again, Gail Simone knows her characters very well, but it's like the movie Lethal Weapon II, which is a good movie, but it's just not the same as the first movie Lethal Weapon.  

Spoilers:    Someone is digging up personal information on the birds, specifically Black Canary, and telling the world, but not in a nice "Entertainment Tonight" way.  They are manipulating the truth and making Black Canary, Dinah Lance,  look like the number one dastardly being on the planet.  The media is gobbling up these half-truths and spewing them out. The Birds seemingly don't have a friend in the world to turn to for help... except ...Penguin.  Also, a highly trained mystery woman using the name White Canary says she will kill one of the Birds every six hours, if Black Canary doesn't concede to her demands. 

BIRDS OF PREY Vol 1 : ENDRUN Issues 1-6

Writer: Gail Simone

Colorist: Nei Ruffino

Letterer: Swands

Editor: Janelle Siegel

Issues:1-4  

Pencillers: Ed  Benes and Adriana Melo

Inkers: Ed Benes and JP Mayer

Issues:5-6

Pencilers: Alvin Lee and Adriana Melo

INkers: Jack Purcell and JP Mayer

Covers: Cliff Chiang, Ed Benes, Nei Rugino, Alina Urusov, Ryan Sok, JOel Gomez, Fernando Parsarin, Randy Mayor, Carrie Strachan

FLASPOINT Free preview given out on Free comic book day.

This is a product of DC but it was handed out on Free Comic book day, so I'm hoping that I won't get in trouble posting it.  To DC, just ask and I will delete the post.

The last panel on this page is causing controversy. Some believe that the girl on the far right is XS 
and that she was colored wrong.

On the USA Today website(Link), published Monday, it was confirmed that it was XS.

One thing for sure is that 
...Bart Allen aka Kid Flash is not in the picture.

Flashpoint #1 doesn't have this last page. It goes more into Barry's story and what is happening around the world then Barry shows up at Batman's door.
I got that the captions are from Batman but it's odd for him to have gold/yellow captions.

FLASHPOINT Reading list updated 08-25-2011

FLASHPOINT : DC Mega Event

READING ORDER:

I'll use different colors to highlight different storylines. Blue:Booster Gold, Red:Flash, Gray:Batman, pupleish: Cyborg, Green: Green Lantern, Light Blue: Traci, Yellow: Secret Seven, Orange: Aquaman, Fusia: Wonder Woman,  White: Deathstroke, Salmon: Kid Flash

The main Flashpoint title can be read without all the others. The other titles can be read separately from each other, but if you read more then one then I've put this in order to the best of my ability to keep each of them from spoiling the other. Several of the cross-overs feel unfinished so I feel that you would need the Main title to get the finished story, plus I think the main title is the best of the lot. I've gave my feelings on the title at the ending number, and I've noted if they finished the story or not.

Flash Rebirth 4

Issues before FlashPoint that may help.

DC Universe 0: Has Flash coming drawn back by a sound.
 
Flash Rebirth 1-6: Has Reverse Flash taunting Flash and giving why he brought him back, and Max's rescue.

TIME MASTERS: Vanishing Point 1-6 or TPB- Storyline basically a waste of time, BUT Reverse Flash has one page where he is stealing information about the omega sanction, what that information is not really revealed.

 Flash 7: Capt Boomarang releases Reverse Flash (Cool)
 Flash 8: Reverse Flash rebirth( It's okay)



PRELUDE to FLASHPOINT

FLASH 9-12 {The road to Flashpoint):(It's okay)

FLASHPOINT: REVERSE FLASH 1(A dull rehash of what Reverse Flash has done in the past to get revenge on Flash before Flashpoint)


FLASHPOINT READING ORDER:

GREEN LANTERN FLASHPOINT SPECIAL EDITION (free comic book day comic) (link)(repeats in Flashpoint 1) 

FLASHPOINT #1: Has Batman, Flash, Cyborg in it. Definition of Alchemy is listed at bottom of this post. (cool so far)
BOOSTER GOLD 44-47: (pretty good but doesn't touch the main FP title)
 
FLASHPOINT: PROJECT: SUPERMAN #1-2 (Awesome so far...but references to what happened in Booster Gold but to be spoiled without reading BG look at cover to 46 to know where they got the genes)

FLASHPOINT: GRODD  WAR  1-shot (Meh...and really doesn't cross)

FLASHPOINT: GREEN ARROW INDUSTRIES  1-shot (Meh..and really doesn't cross)

FLASHPOINT: Abin Sur #1(Meh )

FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN #1(mostly rehash about Hal before he got the ring but then the last page shows the turning point in the story, could probably skip it and go straight to issue 2)

 FLASHPOINT: Abin Sur #2(Meh..)

FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN #2 (really really meh, not sure of placement)

FLASHPOINT: Abin Sur #3(Meh..)

 



FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES #1-2


FLASHPOINT: Emperor Aquaman 1  

FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #1 

FLASHPOINT: Deathstroke 1 

FLASHPOINT #2:   (cool so far)

FLASHPOINT: BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1-3 (Really dark and graphic but still good, doesn't cross with anything but would happen between main FP#2 and FP#3)

FLASHPOINT: LEGION OF DOOM #1-3: ( meh, doesn't cross with anything but would happen between main FP#2 and FP#3)

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #1-2 (still enjoying it)


FLASHPOINT: Deathstroke 2-3 (It's Okay, the story ends completed. )

FLASHPOINT: Emperor Aquaman 2

FLASHPOINT: CANTERBURY CRICKET 1-shot (Meh...feels like filler for Lois Lane)

FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #2  (It's okay, unfinished)

FLASHPOINT  #3: (really enjoyable)


FLASHPOINT: LOIS LANE AND THE RESISTANCE #3

FLASHPOINT: PROJECT: SUPERMAN #3 (Awesome but unfinished...but references to what happened in Booster Gold but to be spoiled without reading BG look at cover to 46 to know where they got the genes)

FLASHPOINT: WONDER WOMAN AND THE FURIES 3(Meh! feels unfinished, this kinda smashes into Aquaman story) 

FLASHPOINT: Emperor Aquaman 3(Meh! feels unfinished, it repeats a little of WW.)

FLASHPOINT: HAL JORDAN #3(Meh, does have more of a ending then other crossovers)

FLASHPOINT: Citizen Cold 1-3 (Meh! Doesn't cross with main FP other then happening because it happened.)

FLASHPONT: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown 1-3 (Not my type of story but I liked it. Doesn't cross the main FP story)

FLASHPOINT: THE OUTSIDER #1-3 (Ends with a Meh... mostly villainy)

FLASHPOINT: DEADMAN AND THE FLYING GRAYSONS #1-3 (It's Okay. It ends unfinished.)

FLASHPOINT  :4

FLASHPOINT: SECRET SEVEN 1-3 (Meh, psychedelic)

FLASHPOINT: WORLD OF FLASHPOINT 1-3 (It's Okay, Story feels self contained)

FLASHPOINT: KID FLASH LOST #3 (Decent, Not finished)

FLASHPOINT  #5 (I think it was a cop-out reason for all this to happen, but still a enjoyable book)

..

Flashpoint 1- Penciler: Andy Kubert, Inker:Snadra Hope, Colorist: Alex Sinclair

A great website for everything Flash is FLASH : Those who ride the Lighting(link)

They do an awesome job.

Alchemy Definition via link

A medieval philosophy and early form of chemistry whose aims were the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of a cure for all diseases, and the preparation of a potion that gives eternal youth. The imagined substance capable of turning other metals into gold was called the philosophers' stone.

A Closer Look Because their goals were so unrealistic, and because they had so little success in achieving them, the practitioners of alchemy in the Middle Ages got a reputation as fakers and con artists. But this reputation is not fully deserved. While they never succeeded in turning lead into gold (one of their main goals), they did make discoveries that helped to shape modern chemistry. Alchemists invented early forms of some of the laboratory equipment used today, including beakers, crucibles, filters, and stirring rods. They also discovered and purified a number of chemical elements, including mercury, sulfur, and arsenic. And the methods they developed to separate mixtures and purify compounds by distillation and extraction are still important.

BATMAN 198 review 80 page Giant

RATING:
4.3 out of 5

It's contains reissues of several stories that were published previously, but if you can't find the original sources this issue is a great alternative. Even though Batman isn't as grim as he is today, these stories were fun and full of action.  You've got to expect a few "Golly Gee Whiz"s, but if you find a Batman 198, snatch it up and enjoy a simpler time.

There are seven complete stories in this 80-page giant. Below is a list of the stories. I've included spoilers for what happened in each and  I've included the splash page for each.  There are no credits except for Bob Kane's signature, but if you click on this:
Link on creators 
Someone at the Grand Comics Database tracked down the creators.

 1. The Origin of the Batman:

Originally in Batman #47-"The Tale of the Caped Crimebuster's showdown with the man who murdered his parents!"

SPOILER:

In this story Batman sees Joe Chill, a local gangster, and recognizes him as the man who killed his parents. He confronts him and reveals he is Bruce Wayne. Joe Chill runs and tells his henchmen that he was responsible for creating Batman. The henchmen turn on Joe Chill and shoot him, because he created Batman.

A version of this story was on the animated series Batman: Brave and the Bold, "Chill of the Night".

2. The Jungle Cat-Queen:
 Original story in Detective #211-"The Catwoman...Princess of Plunder...bedevils the Dynamic Duo on an island populated by prowling jungle cats."

SPOILER:
Batman and Robin chase the Empress of the Underworld, Catwoman, to her island hideout. The locals capture the dynamic duo, but before they are shot in a volley of gunfire, Catwoman steps in and convinces the locals that there is more fun in hunting the dynamic duo through the local jungle.  She also has the locals take off the duo's costumes and dress them in jungle attire.  She mockingly chases them, then the locals catch Batman again.  Catwoman has them put back on Batman's costume and the locals toss him over a waterfall.  Catwoman is distressed because she thought Batman died in the waterfall fall, "Batman... gone. and  I thought he'd save himself...He always has in the past."
BUT he had survived and with Robin's help captures the locals, but Catwoman gets away.

This was a very fun story, and much better told then the teaser in the Batman: Brave and the Bold episode "Shadow of the Bat'. The art is great and very detailed.

 3. The Web of the Spinner

Original from Batman #129-"...Batwoman, teaming with the Titanic Twosome to tackle the whirligig of crime, the Spinner!"

SPOILER:

Batwoman does make a cameo in this story and with her help ascertained who the Spinner was and captured him.
It's my least favorite of the stories.

Both her and the Spinner show up in the Batman: Brave and the Bold episode, "The Criss Cross Conspiracy!"

 4. The Man of 1,000 Umbrellas

Originally syndicated in the Sunday Newspapers-"The Penguin forgets his fowl play ofr a day to welcome his Aunt Miranda and introduce her to his "Friends"- Batman and Robin!"

SPOILER:

This was very fun...with the Penguin trying to get away from the dynamic duo and at the same time keep his aunt in the dark about his nefarious ways.  Batman and Robin are soft hearted toward the aunt and keep Penguins facade of being a umbrella manufacturer. Finally the aunt has to leave to catch a train for home and the Penguin is caged.

 5. The Crimes of Batman
Originally in World's Finest #61-"When the Joker nabs Robin, Batman must ransom his sidekick by cheating, stealing and killing!"

SPOILER:

This was great...
Joker feels that Batman has made a fool of him by getting him to help solve a crime, like a lawman. Joker decides to turn the tide and make Batman turn into a criminal. He captures Robin, and tells Batman, "You shall CHEAT, STEAL, And KILL..in that order! AND each event must be well-publicized so that th world knows of your guilt! Ho-Ho-Ho! Failure to do this will result in Robin's Death!"

Batman achieves all three without actually doing the crimes, with the finale ending up with Batman,  "Killing two birds with one stone!" by capturing the Joker and freeing Robin. 

As I said, this was great with Batman having the mental triumph  over Joker.

 6. The Menace of False Face
Originally in Batman #113-"You've seen him battle Batman on TV! Now read the story of the first clash between False Face and the Cowled Crusader."

SPOILER:
False Face poses as well known wealthy men to steal treasure. Batman tracks him down, then poses as False Face letting the henchmen lead him to the lair where all the stolen goods are being kept. This had a good surprise reveal of Batman as False Face.

7. The Bandit of the Bells

Originally in Batman #55-"The bells are ringing...for wrong...when the Gong and his gang of goons strike...and come face-to -face with Batman and Robin!

SPOILER:

Despite the cacophony of sound this would be of lower decibel then the other stories, but it was still entertaining to see how the duo gets off of a buoy and how they track him down from a small whole punch of a bell.



I hope that all of you enjoyed this little blast from the past. I know I did. -AA

I've made $.35

I've had the Adsense advertising on my blog for like 6 months... and I've made a whopping 35 cents.
Personally, I think any change that was put in my pocket as a good thing.
But I read the terms for payout, it has come to my attention that a check would be cut and sent to me when the balance reaches $100.00. BaWahahaha..

My husband, ...codename Mr Smartypants, said, "Make sure it's in your Will so that our son can get it."

I think...I've decided that I'd rather get rid of the clutter on my blog.:smile:

SUPERMAN: THE BLACK RING TPB #1 includes: Action Comics 890 891 892 893 894 895

RATING: 2.78 out of 5

There is NO...repeat NO Superman in this trade, what-so-ever.  There's not even a panel with a faint image of him, so I dropped the rating by a partial point just because of the flagrant gimmicktry of them using "Superman" in the Title.

What's in this trade paperback?

Lex Luthor's Odyssey.

{EDIT: Superman does show up in Issue 900 which is the last part of the second TPB of this story arc but not in this TPB.}




Lex travels from one place to another looking for the elusive answers to the Black Ring residual energy and yes... I took another partial point away because the odyssey doesn't end with this trade.

The interaction between Lex and the other characters in the DC universe is at times fun, but the plot itself seems to languish and moves only a little from issue to issue.  The plot is basically there only as an excuse for Lex to meet the other cameo characters.


In this trade Lex meets up with Mr Mind, Gorrilla Grodd, Deathstroke, Death {vertigo's female version}, and Vandal Savage.

Below are my reviews as the issues came out.  At first I was intrigued with the plot...then my opinion started going down hill with each issue.

ACTION COMICS 890 REVIEW

Writer:  Paul Cornell, Pencillers: Pete Woods & Cafu, Inkers: Woods & BIT, Colorist: Brad Anderson, Letterer: Rob Leigh, Cover: David Finch, Batt & Peter Steigerwald, Publisher: DC Comics 2010
 Rating:Rating: 3.3 out of 5

This story was very intriguing and I enjoyed reading it.  I'm not sure how many issues are involved in the whole story line, but the writer, Paul Cornell,  is on the series at least through #894. With 40 pages a story, he should be able to give us something good.

Spoilers if you want to skip the go to the next review in Blue

This is one of the times where the story is better then the art work, and carries the book. Not that the art was bad, but it wasn't the grandiose stuff that has been coming out.  For the most part the art fit well with the story.
For 40 pages the issue passed quickly and was entertaining.  The writer, Paul Cornell, has written several Doctor Who novels, so ... he is no stranger to writing a entertaining story with interesting characters.

I'm not normally the type to like stories that have only the second bananas in it, and Lex Luther is not... my favorite bad guy, so I'm a  little... trepidatious  about the future issues in the story, but I'm intrigued enough to WANT more, which is true to form for the story.

During the Dc Comics Blackest Night mega event, Lex Luther wore the Orange Lantern ring of Avarice, extreme greed. Now that the ring is no longer on his finger, he still has the extreme greed.  He has always been greedy so whats the difference, he used to have  the ability to wait in order to obtain something that one wants.  

The  wanting ...and longing... that he has now, takes precedence over everything.   

He is already wealthy, so the extreme that he craves the most is power (nothing new). Specifically, he wants the power that a Lantern ring will provide. Why is he interested in the Black Lantern Rings? They all disappeared... didn't they? Because he is a smart man, and he knows that they are not totally gone.  All those rings and all that power for the taking.

 

 

ACTION comics #891 Review

RATING 3.3 out of 5

This issue doesn't rank high on action, but... what did I expect with Lex Luther as the main character. It's not a "Wow" kind of book, more of a comedy.  I'm not a fan of the character of Lex Luthor, but I still enjoyed the story and plan to get the next issue.

Spoilers if you want to skip the go to the next review in Blue

Paul Cornell is able to keep the character of Lex Luthor true to form, but this issue seems to be a bit  off course from the main storyline started in the previous issue, which was Luthor searching for a way to build his own power ring from the Black Lantern rings that disappeared.

This issue seemed a little slow to me. Even though I see the humor of going into Lex Luthor's mind and seeing his fantasies, it just wasn't my type of action packed comic.
 

The storyline starts with Luthor, as a caveman, stealing "Fire" from the gods to bring to mankind. The gods looking suspiciously like The Trinity (superman, Wonder woman, and Batman.)

We find out ....that Lex's antagonist... the adorable  "Mr Mind", is trying to gain information from Lex, by having him live through his fantasies (I don't get it, but a plots a plot).

AND personally, I believe Lex's antagonist needs to be bottled up and sold to promote the acceptance of cute caterpillars everywhere.

He is....Just so ...adorable.(see panel to the left)

What is the  information that Lex has in his mind for Mr Mind to find? Whatever it is ...Mr Mind himself doesn't know. (So cute...I could just pinch those cheeks...ah... if he had any.) Mr Mind seems to be afraid of someone else, who he thinks is watching him. This "mysterious" someone... wasn't clear on what Mr Mind was to extract from Lex's mind.

I might have made it a bit more complicated then the story  really is, so lets try again: Lex's mind...controlled by Mr Mind .... looking to find ...information undefined...for someone not inclined...to become a headline.

Lex creatively gets free of Mr Mind and gives him "The boot", then decides to get extra muscle to help him on his quest for higher power, Deathstroke. 

I would say that you could skip this issue if you want, but the story was cute and humerus.

I'm looking forward to the next issue. Deathstroke is one of my favorite bad guys, plus he's hunk..in a evil...one eyed... katana swinging way.  If I have a choice between a cute evil caterpillar, and bad ass hunk, bad ass hunk will win in my book every time.

ACTION COMICS #892 The Black Ring: part 3 Review

Rating 2.5 out of 5

This rating is on the story by Paul Cornell not on the co-feature in the back of the issue.

Meh...really Meh... Not bad ... not good... Meh..

The action seemed clunky...like two old men fighting.  This issue is part of a ongoing storyline and... I did like the previous two issues and ....I'm looking forward to the 'Death' issue, so I'll  still buy into future issues.

But if you haven't started the story yet don't start it on this Issue. 

Review with SPOILERS Skip to the review in blue if spoilers are not for you.

I was trying to cough out my lungs last week because I had come down with whatever is new at the kids school, so I thought maybe it was my Meh... mood when I first read it , but even today as I re-read it, I could care less about this story.

Lex is still looking for answers about the left over energy of the Black Rings.  He is in the Antarctic with his crew and hired bodyguard Deathstroke. They come upon a dome of blackness which Lex believes is "...a different kind of spacetime. An allotrope of normal space."

The dome starts messing with Deathstroke's emotions and he starts making a path toward Lex...killing anyone in his way.  I think the biggest problem is that Deathstroke didn't look fierce, he looked like a old man in a winter coat.  Maybe if he wore his mask it would have been better.

 Lex gets in his portable green Power suit and the two face off, but... it felt...like two old men fighting.  

FOR Example....--> 

Of course I added a few touches to help with the picture but it's close. 

Am I wrong?...

Maybe ...

BUT I'm close....ain't I..?

Maybe...

Am I feeling better...?

Possibly...[grin]

ACTION COMICS #893 : The Black Ring Part 4

 RATING 3.3 out of 5

This issue is a lot better then last month's issue.  The art has made the characters pop out and the story wasn't as blah, but ...this issue didn't  move the main plot about the Black Ring energy any further then  last month's issue.

Review with SPOILERS Skip to the review in blue if spoilers are not for you.

Lex investigates another location for Black Ring energy in Uganda. It just so happens to be a base of operations for Gorilla Grodd, who is hungry for information, literally hungrey for information.  Grodd is popping brains in his mouth like they were pills. 

I don't remember Grodd ever doing this in the past, plus... I always thought Gorrilla's were herbivores, but I'm not a expert on Grodd, so I just shrugg and move past this and enjoy the issue.

 

Unfortunately for Grodd, Lex's noggin is a bit more solid and ...Lex has planned ahead (pun attended) for Grodd's appitite.  The lingering Black Ring energy is found inside Grodd's base, and once again, like when they sampled it in Issue #892, the energy changed. Despite Lex's ingenuity, Grodd get's in the final blow, which leads into next months guest appearance with Vertigo's female Death.

 

There are quite a few cute moments in the story and the art was able to make the intention of the writer to be funny... to come across funny, but also was able to convey the fierceness of Grodd.  This art team is so...much better then last months. The pages are similar to the art on the cover, which was done by David Finch, Joe Weems & Peter Steigerwald.

I'm looking forward to Death appearance next month but I hope the plot doesn't start sagging, because ...I also want to know more about the the black ring energy, and how Lex plans to use it.. 

ACTION COMICS #894 Review

RATING 2.5 out of 5
This cover is awesome. Look at the background detail. Fantastic. Then you open it up. BLAH Blah blah blah... They talk and talk and talk.

Review with SPOILERS Skip to the review in blue if spoilers are not for you.

:
There's not even a good panel to pull. Maybe if David Finch had done the interiors, but all they did was talk. They walked around in the glade talking. Then she zapped them to a place where they could sit down and...talk.

The best part of the issue was shown in the previews where she touched his nose ...WITHOUT TALKING.

I'm leaving this title for awhile. What was a great idea for a story in the beginning of the arc isn't really being worked on.

Major Spoiler of ending:

How does Luther get out of... Death? Was it creative? Did he escape Death?

Well...He wakes up. Yelp. The ol' dream sequence skit was pulled.

 

ACTION COMICS #895 Review:

I didn't get this issue. Other reviewers gave it a 4 out of 5. I doubt that I would've.

Here is the review by Craig McEhatton. 

He seems mighty excited about the issue.

Issue #895 is the first part of a two parter with Vandel Savage and the Secret six...which is in the middle of the 10 issue limited story, which could have been summed up in three issues. Um... I guess I'm bit tired of the gimmickry of Lex's Odyssey.