MONDOmagazine

Batman Incorporated #1
Grant Morrison (w), Yanick Paquete (p), Michel Lacombe (i), Nathan Fairbairn (c), DC Comics.

After reading this comic I felt like I had to call Isaac and say “how completely amazing was Batman Incorporated?” Honestly, I never do that. It was THAT GOOD! It’s not just the elegant storytelling or the gorgeous visuals; it’s also that for the first time in a very long time I felt like Bruce Wayne as Batman was fun! I enjoyed spending time with him. This book felt kind of like “Bruce and Selina’s sexy Japanese spy adventure”, and if that alone doesn’t have you running out to buy this book then you and I are two very different people. The interplay between them was a blast, the villain is completely awesome and the ending… THE ENDING!!! I loved it so much. – Owen Craig.

Owen’s rating: 5 out of 5

Batman: Streets of Gotham #17
Paul Dini, Fabian Nicieza (w), Dustin Nguyen, Szymon Kudranski (p), Derek Fridolfs (i), John Kalisz, Nick Filardi (c). DC Comics.

There’s a new villain introduced — The Bedbug… he’s appropriately disgusting and of course timely, I approve. This comic can be divided into three parts: a Batman/Catwoman team up, Hush is told some history, and the actual Ragman backup. The Hush history part is handled much better here than in the previous issue, as the unreliable narrator tells the story we get to then see what really happens — and part of what happens is Alfred goes all battle butler on some mobsters. The Ragman art was at times far too dark to make it out, and I’m not really a fan of the character, but certain images are deserving of their own poster. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Batman: The Return #1
Grant Morrison (w), David Finch (p), Batt, Ryan Winn (i), Peter Steigerwald (c). DC Comics.

“…and so was born this weird figure of the night!” Ah, I love that old school Batman descriptor. This story actually lost a lot of points for the beginning action scene that didn’t clearly show where some life saving airbags erupted from — it needed an extra panel. That, and how Oracle just appears in panel when she wasn’t in the establishing shot are problems for me. However, seeing the dynamic between Bruce Wayne and Damian working together and how much they don’t mesh was a very smart move. Grayson is the better trainer for Damian, just as I suspected. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Chaos War: Dead Avengers #1
Fred Van Lente (w), Tom Grummett (p), Cory Hamscher (i), Andy Troy (c). Marvel Comics.

I have the softest of spots for Grummett — artist of the first Robin solo series and one of the first comics I ever bought as a kid. So I love seeing him draw a comic where a lot of obscure Avengers come back from the dead. It’s pure fan service so you will either geek out on the fun situation or you will not care. I… don’t care a lot. There are some very good flashbacks, some great character moments, but I don’t have much familiarity with these characters. If you’re into Avengers history and you haven’t picked up this comic yet I don’t  think you’d be disappointed. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Darkwing Duck #6
Ian Brill (w), James Silvani (a), Andrew Dalhouse (c), Boom Studios.

I’m running out of ways to constantly praise this book (I mean, I’ve already put it up there with The Unwritten and Morning Glories as one of the best things I’m reading), so instead I’ll just list some of the things I loved: the Negaduck narration at the beginning, the protest sign that read “bring back Bonkers”, the Ira Glass (whoops, I mean Myron Plastic) cameo, Bowling Ball Darkwing’s scene and the spectacular two-page spread of alternate reality Darkwings. Oh, and I love the constant Disney easter-eggs. This book is so good. – Owen Craig.

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

DC Universe Legacies #7
Len Wein (w), Various (a), DC Comics.

I appreciate the skill it took to retell all of Batman: Knightfall and Superman: Doomsday in one issue, but I do wish that a little less time were spent retelling those stories. Much of what I loved about the earlier issues of this series was the way that certain events were touched on in a page or a few panels and then we would move on. Now, I get that these stories are especially popular with today’s audiences and this is probably what was demanded (in a sense) of this issue, but I was a little disappointed to see less context and more retelling. Still, it’s worth pointing out that the retelling was very skilled. What I loved here, though, was the Camelot story in the back! That was awesome! Why haven’t I read the original book? Am I crazy? – Owen Craig.

Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

Flash #6
Geoff Johns (w), Francis Manapul (a), Brian Buccellato (c). DC Comics.

Yes, the art is gorgeous, that’s never going to be untrue. As for the story, it doesn’t feel as though this first arc needed six issues to tell. We return to the crime lab, to the forensic team characters we haven’t seen since issue one, and Barry Allen managed to change their minds about how they operate — a very big deal thematically, as it is touched on with the Flash’s adventure with “The Renegades”, but it happened all at once! You didn’t get to see the change really happen at the office, and it’s just a missed opportunity. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Green Lantern #59
Geoff Johns (w), Doug Mahnke (p), Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Doug Mahnke (i), Randy Mayor, Gabe Eltaeb (c). DC Comics.

The Green Lantern stuff had lost momentum, but this issue is a step back in the right direction. The Flash calls Green Lantern out on all the shenanigans the other Lantern corps have been up to — “a teenage girl’s been possessed by an alien entity!” “I’m, uh, I’m going to fix that.” The implication of how these rings are changing certain people is a main point, and should make for some interesting revelations in future issues. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Green Lantern Corps #54
Tony Bedard (w), Tyler Kirkham (p), Batt (i), Nei Ruffino (c). DC Comics.

Sinestro and Kyle Rayner get into a fist fight and it is viscerally AWESOME. I don’t even mind that Kyle lost. The new villain they’ve introduced is interesting for how he could be seen as a sort of hero… it helps if you judge him on the values they hold high in a sort of Klingon society. The art is a sort of rough Jim Lee, but I like it. He also draws Soranik Natu really cute and cartoony, yielding some odd, but fun, juxtaposition. –Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

Legion of Super-Heroes #7
Paul Levitz (w), Yildiray Cinar, Wayne Faucher, Francis Portela (a), Hi-fi (c). DC Comics.

I didn’t feel they covered all that much in this comic — which wouldn’t be a problem if my expectations weren’t so high. It’s okay, I guess, but it was so much better before. I’m not sure how to feel about a joke they do with Brainiac 5 — they’re ripping off the Iron Man joke where the robot keeps trying to put out the non existent fire on Tony Sta… dude, you saw the movie, you know what I’m talking about! It looks like part of the story is being told over in Adventure Comics now. Of course they start this the issue AFTER I drop the book. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2.5 out of 5

Morning Glories #4
Nick Spencer (w), Joe Eisma (a), Alex Sollazzo (c), Image Comics.

This series is excruciating. Honestly, after each issue all I want is to know what happens next and I have to wait a whole damn month. Sure, I could wait six months or so to wait for the trade and then get it in big chunks, but it’s so freaking good that that’s just not happening. Even just glancing back at the issue for this review I’m noticing amazing lines that were foreshadowing events right under my very nose. This is a well crafted, tantalizing and completely engaging comic. People flipping through the channels on their TVs looking for the next Lost are looking in the wrong place, because it’s right here. – Owen Craig.

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Northlanders #34
Brian Wood (w), Riccardo Burchielli (a), Dave McCaig (c). Vertigo.

I really respect that Wood takes risks with Northlanders and isn’t afraid to tell different kinds of stories in this (very loose) setting. And while I didn’t totally love this arc (especially compared to the last arc, The Plague Widow, which is some of the best work he’s ever done (on sale now)) I still enjoyed it.  Other thing I respect? The man gets to work with some of the best artists in the world. This is a great looking comic and next issue has Becky Cloonan. So, yeah, buy Northlanders now and next month and FOREVER. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thunderbolts #150
Jeff Parker (w), Kev Walker (a), Frank Martin with Fabio D’Auria (c). Marvel Comics.

Sigh. I am disappointed in Jeff Parker — which is something that’s never really happened before. I’ve not loved everything he’s ever done, but I’ve never been so heart-broken over a pacing choice he made. Last issue had a really, really cool finish and I saw dozens of storylines coming out of it — they were going to be tense, interesting and would have elevated this series to the next level. Instead, it gets resolved in this issue. The one thing that made me really excited about future issues of Thunderbolts gets wrapped up pretty tightly in this issue. Sure, Parker can still play with these elements, but it’s not going to be the same. Walker is a competent artist but doesn’t excite me in a way that would make me keep buying this book. Thunderbolts is back on my bubble. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 2.5 out of 5

X-Factor #211
Peter David (w), Emanuela Lupacchino (p), Pat Davidson (i), Matt Milla (c). Marvel Comics.

What Marvel craze does Peter David have to buy into for you jerks to start buying this book? There’s been Civil War, and X-Men crossovers, now he’s joining the onslaught of Thor-related material Marvel is publishing.  So, come on! Buy it already! I know you’re all buying worse comics right now. This comic has solid art, good jokes, and one of the best odd-ball casts in comics. You could all do a lot, lot worse. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5