This was actually very good but with writer Peter Tomasi (Green Lantern Corps) on hand I should have expected a good story.

Along with artist Fernando Pasarin, Tomasi gives us some background on one of the key characters from the epic Kingdom Come miniseries from 1996 as well as the current Kingdom storyline in the ongoing Justice Society of America. Lance Corporal David Reid was brought back from the dead by the god-like entity, Gog, several issues ago in JSA and turned into the superpowered Magog. Not only do we get backstory but a good and very timely story about a confrontation between superheroes and armed rebel sadists in the Congo. Pick up the book…it’s a flat-out good read. Grade: A-

Marvel Comics: Deadpool #4

This is very simple…this book is tons of fun! Humorous dialogue, slick art, blood, bullets and zombies all wrapped up in a superhero-ish package. Worth the buy! Grade: A

Dark Horse Comics: Conan the Cimmerian #5

I really, really miss writer Kurt Busiek and artist Cary Nord on this book. It seems to be lacking vitality throughout and I’ve never really felt that reading any Conan before. Writer Tim Truman, who has done other great things, just seems to not be hitting all of the buttons that need to be pushed. It’s very hard to put my finger on. Artist Tomas Giorello is a worthy artist but lacks that bit of grace and punch we got from Cary Nord. I just can’t recommend this book and it pains me. Grade: C- (very close to a D)

Cover of the Week: Fantastic Four #561 (variant cover)

Gotta love chimps!

Until next time— Peace…

Written by Joe Pokaski with art by Tom Raney (and a brutally beautiful cover by Stjepan Sejic), the third issue of this mini involves the strange royal family of the Inhumans as they deal with the Skrull invasion that is currently sweeping through the Marvel books.

The Inhuman queen, Medusa, knows that the Skrulls have her powerful husband, Black Bolt, captive as well as their son and are surgically tapping into his power to use as a weapon against the Inhumans. I’ve been a fan of the Inhumans since reading Fantastic Four comics as a kid. They’ve always been so weird, so visually interesting and so aloof that they captured my imagination probably in more ways than a lot of the Marvel characters. The back story on them is that they were created by the Kree, aliens that resemble us except for their blue skin, to be weapons directed against the Skrulls. A big battle was to take place many, many years ago but it never happened…until now. Which is what makes this mini so cool in that I love the Inhumans and they finally get to fight the battle they were made for. The art in here is well done and the action and dynamic between the characters makes this a book worth picking up. Grade: A

Wildstorm: Gears of War #1

You know, bad games make bad comic books and good games make…well, they usually make bad comic books or at least painfully average ones. I love the Gears of War game that this is based on but the comic doesn’t have much going for it except pretty visuals. It has the essence of the game but this just works better as a game. Writer Joshua Ortega and artist Liam Sharp do their best but this just feels like a way to cash in on the game’s success. Hell, it’ll probably work…I picked up the damn comic. So, again, great game….mediocre comic. Grade: C-

Marvel Comics: Deadpool #3

Yes! Yes! Yes! I’m loving me some Deadpool! I’ve always liked the character but really only read his first mini-series and about the first 10 issues of his first on-going (this one, is volume 3 btw). But damn, this comic is a buttload of fun. This 3rd issue continues with Deadpool’s infiltration aboard a Skrull ship to wreak havoc and do a little espionage in the process of all the havoc wreakin’. Yep, we’re dealing with the Skrulls here as it seems is the deal of the day on all of Marvel’s books with the Secret Invasion storyline but it’s pretty freakin’ funny here. Writer Daniel Way kicks ass by really getting you inside the insane melon of Deadpool and artist Paco Medina delves out detailed pencils that capture every nuance of humor and violence. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Grade: A+

Cover of the Week: Gen 13 #23

Almost makes me want to read it again!

Until Next Time–Peace…