My comic picks for 9/24/20

My comic picks for 9/6/20

My comic picks for 8/27/20

My comic picks for 8/21/20

My comic picks for 8/6/20

My comic picks for 8/1/20

My comic picks for 7/15/20

My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies by Ed Brubaker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a standalone book, not part of the Criminal series. Brubaker and Phillips bring the strong art and brilliant writing that fans have become used to. The limited watercolor pallet that Jacob Phillips brings is perfect for the book, dropping most color when the story moves back into the past.

Ellie, whose parents were both criminals, and raised by an 'uncle' after her mother passed away. It was he that placed her in a rehab center. There she meets Skip, also placed by family. Everyone there is dealing with various issues, some very real and others in denial, but the two younger patients soon find them sharing. We learn, through flashbacks, about Ellie's upbringing, before and after her mother's death. How she became a fan of creators, who often got their own inspiration from drugs. Hence the title and Ellie's admission. In Brubaker's work, his characters always carry secrets, those often hidden even from the reader.

Whether it's his work on original material, or working for major comics companies, Brubaker is among my favorite writers, and Sean Phillips is the perfect partner on most of his graphic novels.


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First issue reviews 7/5/20

My comic picks for 7/2/20

My comic picks for 6/25/20

Book of Death: The Fall of the Valiant Universe by Jeff Lemire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I admit to being an on and off Valiant fan, since the early days. I'll pick up a particular title for a while and maybe follow it through an arc or until the creative team changes. On the other hand, I do love the various characters and feel they have a lot of potential not often utilized, just to get out a monthly book.

This TPB collects the four issues focusing on different characters, that tie into the Valiant Universe 'event' Book of Death. That deals with the last Geomancer who travels back in time with a book revealing the ultimate fate of these characters and mankind.

We see the 'last days' of Bloodshot, Ninjak, X-O Manowar and the group Harbinger Renegades. We also witness the fate of Toyo Harada, first and most powerful of the psiots (the name Valiant uses for their super-powered characters). Four writers team with four artists to put this all together, each nicely crafting a story that honors of the past of the characters and completing some long-time story lines.

While I enjoyed all the stories, I found Jeff Lemire & Doug Braithwaite' Bloodshot tale the best of the bunch, but I'm a sucker for Lemire's writing anyway. I think fans of any of the characters will be happy with what was done.


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My comic picks for 6/18/20

My comic picks for 6/11/20

Young Justice, Vol. 1: Gemworld by Brian Michael Bendis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been a fan of the Young Justice characters since the "World Without Grownups" miniseries. It's nice seeing four of the original team (Superboy aka Conner Kent, Robin aka Tim Drake, Impulse aka Bart Allen and the Wonder Girl aka Cassandra Sandsmark) reunited.

While in Metropolis, each for their own reasons, Tim and Cassie become involved in what appears to be an alien invasion. During this event they come upon two new characters, Jinny Hex (Great Granddaughter of Jonah) and the young Teen Lantern. Just in time, naturally, Bart appears and he couldn't be more excited to see his old teammates. When they attempt to follow the departing 'aliens' they find themselves transported to Gem World, where they are soon joined by Princess Amethyst who is in the midst of political intrigue threatening her world. Initially separated from his companions Bart finds that another former YJ member, Conner, had been trapped on this same world for a time.

After seemingly saved her land, Amethyst decides to join her new friends and return to her home world of Earth for a while. Little does the team know that things might not be what they appear to be.

Great reintroduction of the team, with writer Bendis nicely capturing the feel of the older characters and fleshing out the new members. This TPB collects the first six issues of the series, ending on cliff hanger. Eight artists, the principal being Patrick Gleason and John Timms, all do solid work bring artistic changes to flashbacks that fill-in how many of the characters ended up where the story began.


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My comic picks for 6/4/20

My comic picks for 5/28/20

Network Effect by Martha Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another solid story

I have loved Murderbot since the first novella and they just keep getting better. Part of it is watching the character develop throughout the series as it expands its knowledge of humans. The introduction of ART in an earlier book only increased my fondness for the character.

When Murderbot becomes involved in a hostage situation, involving his humans it quickly becomes obvious that there is a much more difficult issue taking place. Soon Murderbot and ART find themselves in a situation that could lead to the end of both of them.

Another great story that expands on the universe that Wells has created and promising further stories.


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My comic picks for 5/24/20

My comic picks for 5/14/20