Behind the Capes

You don't have your copy yet?!? Own a digital NOW! An Enemy Within Script - Marv Wolfman, Pencils - Curt Swan, Inks - Bruce Guice (p1-4) & Kurt Schaffenberger (p5), Colors - Hi-Fi, Letters - Rob Leigh, Original Story by Cindy Goff, Curt Swan, and Butch Guice, with page 5 courtesy of "Superman: The Secret Years #2" by Bob Rozakis, Curt Swan, and Kurt Schaffenberger Initial Reactions This may very well be the least amount of time that we see our birthday boy, but it is one of the most poignant message about who Superman really is.  Of course, when you see the name Curt Swan you can't help but think of the Man of Steel.  Add in the legendary Marv Wolfman? Forget about it, sign me up! The Story This brief story centers around the heroic actions of Maggie Sawyer and the officers in her unit.  There is a hostage-taker who we discover is under Brainiac's control.  Superman is in awe as Maggie and the people involved in the situation as they resist the ...

You can own it digitally here ! Mayor Murdock Charles Soule - Writer, Mike Henderson - Artist, Matt Milla - Color Artist, VC's Clayton Cowles, Chris Sprouse, Karl Story & Jordie Bellaire - Main Cover Artists, Annalise Bissa & Tom Groneman - Assistant Editors, Devin Lewis & Jordan D. White - Editors, Nick Lowe - Executive Editor, C.B. Cebulski - Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada - Chief Creative Officer, Dan Buckley - President, Alan Fine - Exec. Producer Initial Reactions This issue picks up right where the big issue 600 left off.  We get more Murdock than we do Daredevil, but both story lines kept my attention.  I like the political drama involved, but I understand if people miss the acrobatic action that we are used to from Daredevil. The issue lays some enticing plot threads down and I'm excited to see what Soule has planned! The Story The issue begins with Daredevil in the back of a police van after the events of the last issue.  Mayor Fisk has b...

Get your own digital copy ! Truth, Justice, Family Written by Patrick Gleason and Peter J. Tomasi, Words, Art and Cover by Patrick Gleason, Colors and Cover Colors by Stephen Downer, Letters by Tom Napolitano, Associate Editor - Jessica Chen, Editor - Paul Kaminski Initial Reactions With the exception of a "Special #1" issue coming in early May, this is the end of the Tomasi and Gleason run.  I have loved most of what they have given us, and they helped re-establish the core of the character that was missing in the New 52.  This is not an intense, action-packed issue, but it doesn't need to be.  Like I mentioned in my post on their story in Action #1000 , they have continually focused on the heart of the whole Kent family.  We also get to see what the surviving bizarros are up to, and it is delightfully mundane.  Those boys have been through a lot, so to have lives like normal children is a gift!  This is a satisfying ending to the Kent's time in...

Get your own digital copy here . Never-Ending Battle Story and Words - Peter J. Tomasi, Art - Patrick Gleason, Colors - Alejandro Sanchez, Letters - Tom Napolitano Initial Reactions: This is such a stunning story by the creative team responsible for the amazing Superman title since Rebirth began.  Each of the pages in this story are awesome splash pages, reflecting the differences in style throughout Superman's history.  It is not a particularly complicated story, but it is a near perfect birthday celebration of the first comics superhero.  The focus, as throughout Tomasi and Gleason's run, remains the Kent family.  The result is simply beautiful! The Story: The premise of this story is that Vandal Savage has found a way to manipulate hypertime in order to trap Superman in various past time streams.  The result is Superman fighting his way in gorgeous splash pages through his comic book history, starting in the late 30's.  He enjoyed some of ...

If you go digital, get your copy here ! From the City That Has Everything Writer/Artist: Dan Jurgens, Inks: Norm Rapmund, Colors: Hi-Fi, Letters: Rob Leigh, Cover: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair Initial Thoughts If you are a fan of Superman, please do yourself a favor and PICK UP THIS ISSUE!  Action 1000 has 10 great stories that celebrate the first and greatest superhero of all time.  Since each story is self-contained, we will discuss the stories individually.  The first one is from Dan Jurgens, who is the outgoing writer of Action Comics since Rebirth (not to mention the legendary "Death of Superman" arc).  This story had a lot of heart, and had me on the verge of tears at the end.  It is the first of many fitting tributes to the Man of Steel! The Story The first thing we see is Superman in space on a mission to keep Khund warriors from attacking earth.  We get the impression this happens on an annual basis, and Superman is abl...

Need your own copy? You can buy it here ! Batmen Eternal, Part 3 James Tynion IV - Writer, Javier Fernandez - Artist, John Kalisz - Colors, Sal Cipriano - Letters, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Adriano Lucas - Cover, Dave Wielgosz - Asst. Editor, Chris Conroy - Editor, Jamie S. Rich - Group Editor Initial Reactions Detective 978 is another strong issue in this series.  In it we see the full evolution of Ulysses as a formidable villain.  I'll be honest, I have not been the biggest fan of his character, but this issue serves as the turning point.  He has officially gone off the deep end, and we will have to wait and see what this truly leaves for our heroes.  While I definitely recommend this issue, you may be confused if this is your jumping on point.  If you need a catch-up, check out the first two issues in this arc ( 976 & 977 ) The Story The issue picks up with the aftermath of the attack in the previous issue.  Batman and Red Rob...

Get your digital version here ! Bizarroverse, Part 3:  "As a Family We Go" Written by: Patrick Gleason & Peter J. Tomasi, Pencils by: Doug Mahnke, Inks by: Jaime Mendoza & Doug Mahnke, Colors: Wil Quintana, Letters: Rob Leigh, Cover: Patrick Gleason & Alejandro Sanchez, Associate Editor: Jessica Chen, Editor: Paul Kaminski Initial Reactions: This final arc for Tomasi and Gleason continues to be very strong.  Sure, each issue takes a little bit for me to get used to reading Bizarro-speak, but the family parallels that are dealt with hit a strong chord.  At first, I was wondering why Tomasi and Gleason would tell a Bizarro story for their last full arc.  As we go, it continues to emphasize the strength Superman finds in his family.  In my opinion, this has been the core of their run, so it actually makes perfect sense for this to be their curtain call. The Story: We open on Htrae, which is now overrun by bizarros.  The opening monol...

Get Your Own Digital Copy  Here ! Mayor Fisk, Conclusion Writer - Charles Soule, Artist - Ron Garney, Color Artist - Matt Milla, Letterer - VC's Clayton Cowles, Main Cover Artists - Dan Mora & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Assistant Editor - Annalise Bissa, Editor - Jordan D. White, Editor in Chief - C.B. Cebulski, Chief Creative Officer - Joe Quesada, President - Dan Buckley, Executive Producer - Alan Fine Initial Reactions I have been asking for more action for a few issues now.  There has been some strong character work, but the conclusion of this arc brings all the action you could ask for.  Now that I got it, I am not sure it was my favorite.  We get a massive team-up with all the Hell's Kitchen heroes to take down the Kingpin and his network of crime lords.  I had fun with the issue, but I felt like it was lacking some depth that we had been getting throughout this arc.  This oversized anniversary issue is worth your time, and there are definitel...

Need a Copy? You can Find it Here ! Batmen Eternal, Part 2 Writer - James Tynion IV, Artists - Javier Fernandez, Eddy Barrows & Eber Ferreira, Colors - John Kalisz & Adriano Lucas, Letters - Sal Cipriano, Cover - Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez & Romulo Fajardo Jr., Assistant Editor - Dave Wielgosz, Editor - Chris Conroy, Group Editor - Jamie S. Rich Initial Reactions I know it sounds a little weird, but I have a soft spot for dystopian fiction.  I enjoy the moral themes that this type of writing presents.  This may be one of the main reasons I have been drawn to the stories in Detective Comics.  The opening sequence in this issue is both stunning and devastating for Tim Drake, but we finally get to see why his future self is so worried about Kate Kane.  I still have to be convinced on the character Ulysses, but I do like some of the schemes he is coming up with in this issue.  I am really liking this arc, and I can't wait to get into i...