DUDE! This is hella-awesome!! Thor’s pissed at the gods and humanity for various transgressions and decides to say to hell with it all and thrashes everything on an epic scale. This leads to his father, Odin, to start smackin’ his son around and show him the error of his ways. If you love mythology, battles, great art and, of course, Thor then you should pick this up and revel in this mighty good tale. Grade: A+

DC Comics: Justice Society of America – Kingdom Come Special: The Kingdom ( one-shot )

I don’t understand why this and the previous JSA Kingdom Come one-shots weren’t just told in the regular JSA monthly title but, like the previous two, this is a decent story (with fantastic art) that adds to the mystery and drama surrounding the god-like being, Gog, and how it affects the JSA as well as the rest of the world. Gog has granted “the heart’s desire” of several members of the JSA and some see it as a blessing while others are waiting for the other shoe to fall. The last page of this tale gives you an idea (which at least to me was obvious) of what’s coming. A pretty good story here but only pick it up if you’ve been reading the JSA Kingdom Come storyline already. Grade: B-

Marvel Comics: Hulk #8

You have two stories here in this issue, both second parts of ongoing storylines, one starring the Bruce Banner Hulk and the other starring the very crappy Red Hulk. The Banner Hulk story is better but I was at least entertained by the Red Hulk story. Jeph Loeb writes, if you want to call it that. The highlight of this whole issue is the phenomenal art by Arthur Adams and Frank Cho. Both men are kicking serious ass here. I just wish the writing was up to par. Please Marvel, I beg you, let the Green Hulk kill this Red Hulk. The character really really sucks! Grade: C

Cover of the Week: Batman #681

I hear that the current storyline in this book kind of sucks…but damn, that cover sure is purty!

Until Next Time–Peace…

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…

There is one reason you should buy this and it’s Alex Ross. The man is an unbelievably talented artist and he does the interior art in this thing front to back, not just the cover which he’s been doing mostly for a long while now. This book is beautiful!

If you haven’t been reading Justice Society of America then you might be a little lost. Basically, a much older Superman from a parallel Earth (the one from the most excellent Kingdom Come miniseries from 1996) has shown up on the DC Earth we usually deal with and has to come to terms that most of the allies he saw die on his Earth are very much alive on this one. This one-shot gives us some great moments that are wonderfully accentuated by the outstanding Ross art. He also wrote the thing as well. This is part one of a JSA Kingdom Come Special trilogy that adds to the great story happening in the regular JSA book. But, even if you aren’t following the story, pick this up for the art alone! Grade: A+

Marvel Comics: Wolverine #69 ( Old Man Logan part 4 )

Oh yeah, this story is still a lot of fun! Writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven must be having a great time creating this story. To catch you up, the Marvel Universe has gone all to hell and it’s 50 years later. The supervillains won and divided America into quadrants ruled by particular baddies. Wolverine hasn’t given up his violent ways and just wants to take care of his family. Low on money to make the payment on his land he takes on a job with the now blind ex-Avenger Hawkeye to deliver some cargo to the east coast. They have run-ins with the Ghost Rider gang, the Kingpin and in this issue, the Moloids. Just a straight up cool read that’s superheroes mixed with The Road Warrior with a touch of the western flick Unforgiven. Definitely a fun read for those familiar with the Marvel Universe. The twists on what we know makes this worth reading. Grade: A

DC Comics: Green Lantern Corps #30

This title remains one of the best comics on the stands today. This issue is a lot quieter than previous issues but still gives you some good bang for your buck. This continues the saga of the expanding groups of ring bearers from the emotional/energy spectrum. The GLC go to the planet Zamaron, home of the Star Sapphire/Violet Lantern Corps, to spy under the disguise of diplomacy. They don’t like what they find being done in the name of “love”. And Kyle Rayner and other Corps members have a run-in with Kryb, a Sinestro Corps member who is murdering GLC members and their loved ones and abducting their infant children. Peter Tomasi has been writing his ass off on this book and Patrick Gleason is an artist with a fantastic visceral style that always makes this book find it’s way to the top of my read pile. Like I said, the issue is quieter than it’s been but still worthy of your moolah. Grade: B+

Cover of the Week: Marvel Comics – Magneto: Testament #3

This cover actually makes me feel sorry for the murderous bastard!

Until next time– Peace…

Here’s more goodness from writer Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener, delving out good sci-fi World War II action in their own fantastic way.

I’m telling you folks, you can’t beat the entertainment value in this comic. We continue with Atomic Robo’s adventure of trying to stop the Nazis from interfering with the Allied mission in Europe in 1943, in which they are using walking tanks and other scientific means. This issue also has Robo “teaming-up” with Britain’s adventurer, The Sparrow, to catch the creator of the walking tanks. Lots of fun here! Buy!! Grade: A

Marvel Comics: Ultimate Origins #5 ( of 5 )

Something big is supposed to go down in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe and this mini-series basically gives you all of the origins of the major players in this upcoming event. The Ultimate version of the Watchers have been popping up all over and in this issue they reveal why they are doing the watching but it’s still pretty enigmatic. The Fantastic Four are center stage here so forget seeing Cap or Hulk as in the cover above. But, you do get a pretty sweet revelation here which has been teased for several issues that is a big deal and different from the mainstream Marvel universe. Brian Michael Bendis writes and Butch Guice handles the art, which is very realistic and beautiful. Not a bad book but you need to be interested in the goings on in this particular universe. Grade: B

DC Comics: Justice Society of America #19

Okay, I want to say right off the bat that the image above is not the cover for this particular issue, it’s last month’s. Every image I could find for this month’s cover was of very sucky quality. Anyway, if you’ve been keeping up with this Kingdom Come-esque storyline then you are going to really dig this issue. With all of the drama surrounding the activity of the god-like Gog from the previous issues, things really start to come to a breaking point here. Hawkman gets pissed. Starman is being all mysterious. And Kingdom Come Superman is about to go off…you can just tell. I really want the artist from the last few issues, Fernando Pasarin, back on this book but Dale Eaglesham still does a kick-ass job and it’s nice to have him back on the book. Comic book writing god Geoff Johns gives us another good read here. Oh yeah, Alex Ross is co-plotter and gives us the cover, which is actually good. I just can’t find a decent image of it anywhere. Grade: B+

Cover of the week: Vertigo Comics — Fables #77

ooooh, pretty….

Until next time– Peace…