A series reborn decades after a Bronze Age run that made a few waves, but this run is anything but, as the huge influences of the Teen Titans and X-MeA series reborn decades after a Bronze Age run that made a few waves, but this run is anything but, as the huge influences of the Teen Titans and X-Men books at the time can be seen in this book's inability to set its own style, tone or agenda! 3 out of 12...more
This superb police procedural in a superhero reality is set in Batman's city of Gotham. As well as the usual suspects, we get to know members of the pThis superb police procedural in a superhero reality is set in Batman's city of Gotham. As well as the usual suspects, we get to know members of the police force and their lives. This very interesting nad dare I say daring mainstream superhero universes read looks at the DC super powered world reality through a more human lens; this is fine work by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, easily the best police procedural DC (or Marvel) has ever made. There's also a pretty intelligent and compellingly dark epilogue. 8 out of 12. [image] I read the comic books covered by this omnibus (thanks to this Omnibus there is so much less Goodreads work for me, having this as a single listing as opposed to one for each volume!). I read the comic books Gotham Central #1-40 [image] 2017 read; 2013 read...more
Jo Duffy brings Catwoman back in a second volume as a 'living it large' cat burglar. Goodreads kind of spits in the face of the female writer with thiJo Duffy brings Catwoman back in a second volume as a 'living it large' cat burglar. Goodreads kind of spits in the face of the female writer with this graphic novel listing having the male artist as the headliner! Pretty mediocre overall truth be told. 5 out of 12. [image] I read the comic books Catwoman series two #1-14, Annual #1 and Batman #503-504....more
Catwoman volume one, yep, the first solo Catwoman series, issues t to 4. Mindy Newell's 'for mature readers' origin of Catwoman, is actually very darkCatwoman volume one, yep, the first solo Catwoman series, issues t to 4. Mindy Newell's 'for mature readers' origin of Catwoman, is actually very dark, and also pretty good! 7 out of 12. [image] 2013 read...more
The final volume of Starman featuring 'Grand Guignol' where James Robinson shows just how complex and deep his plotting has been all-along. Great workThe final volume of Starman featuring 'Grand Guignol' where James Robinson shows just how complex and deep his plotting has been all-along. Great work. A long form story telling masterclass rarely seen in superhero books. Some of the art and plotting has been shaky, but the overall storytelling a marvel... no pun intended! 7 out of 12. [image] I read the comic books collected in this volume - Starman (series. 2) #61-81 and JSA All Stars #4....more
This volume covers mostly the 'Stars My Destination' arc where Starman goes into space and James Robinson and David Goyer unite and resolve the entireThis volume covers mostly the 'Stars My Destination' arc where Starman goes into space and James Robinson and David Goyer unite and resolve the entire Starman stellar dynasty. The weakest volume so far, despite the obvious big-time ideas of the creative team. 5 out of 12. [image] I read the comic books collected in this volume - Starman (vol. 2) #47-60, #1000000; Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0; All Star Comics 80-Page Giant #1...more
Such a great creative team on this series, and lo and behold it's broken, with Tony Harris leaving in the middle of this collection! A lot of this volSuch a great creative team on this series, and lo and behold it's broken, with Tony Harris leaving in the middle of this collection! A lot of this volume feels like a filler / set-up for the next star bound volume. [image] I read the comic books Starman (series 2) #39-46; Starman 80-Page Giant #1; Starman: The Mist #1; The Power of Shazam! #35-36. 6 out of 12....more
More great tales, set in the modern era, but also set in the Golden Age, in Opal city, including a shocker regarding the deadly antagonist and new verMore great tales, set in the modern era, but also set in the Golden Age, in Opal city, including a shocker regarding the deadly antagonist and new version of, The Mist!. 8 out of 12. [image] I read the following comic books collected in this volume Starman (season 2) #30-38, Annual #2, Starman Secret Files (one-shot); The Shade #1-4....more
This different and interesting DCX Comics book continues to be... well... different and interesting! A mainstream DC Comics' series that throws all thThis different and interesting DCX Comics book continues to be... well... different and interesting! A mainstream DC Comics' series that throws all the superhero tropes out of the window, whilst still being deep inside the DC superhero reality! This volume includes a great tie-in with the now aged 'Sandman', Wesley Dodds. 7 out of 12, Three Star read. [image] I read the comic books Starman (season 2) #17-29, Annual #1; relevant stories from Showcase '95 #12, Showcase '96 #4-5 2017 and 2013 read...more
Starman season two #0-16. Robinson's superbly crafted handing over of the next generation of the Starman role from fathers to sons. A must read for DCStarman season two #0-16. Robinson's superbly crafted handing over of the next generation of the Starman role from fathers to sons. A must read for DC Comics' fans, as so much of the history of Opal City and the lesser known days of the JSA (Justice Society of America) are included here; in addition to the less-than-enthusiastic Starman himself, Jack Knight is a tremendous piece of characterisation, bringing the 'reluctant hero' trope to DC with a bang! Also, I really like the artwork. 8 out of 12. [image] 2017 and 2013 read...more
The death of the Flash, sees Wally West pick up the mantle, and his own comic, a huge change to The Flash franchise post Crisis. 6 out of 12. I read thThe death of the Flash, sees Wally West pick up the mantle, and his own comic, a huge change to The Flash franchise post Crisis. 6 out of 12. I read the comic books collecting Mike Baron's The Flash run - The Flash volume two #1-14 and Annual #1, but it's great to see that there's now a graphic novel available. [image]...more
Novelization of the last of the Dark Knight films from the trilogy by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan. Frank Miller's dark Gotham and dark BatmanNovelization of the last of the Dark Knight films from the trilogy by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan. Frank Miller's dark Gotham and dark Batman are very well rendered by Cox and co. telling the story of Bane's invasion of Gotham and what appears to be the last stand of the Batman. 6 out of 12, Three Star read. [image] 2013 read...more
The ground breaking rebirth of the JLA with a new name, only limited appearances by just one of the primary three heroes, Batman; and a totally shockiThe ground breaking rebirth of the JLA with a new name, only limited appearances by just one of the primary three heroes, Batman; and a totally shocking new concept… tongue-in-cheek humour! [image] This worked really well, and at the time was seen as an outrageous gamble to enact on DC's premiere team franchise! But to be honest humour asides the plots were just OK. 6 out of 12 Three Star read. [image] I read the comic books Justice League #1-6, Justice League International #7-25, Justice League Europe #1-6, JLI Annuals #1-3 etc. covered by this volume. 2013 read...more
Eisner, Harvey and Schuster Award winning limited series. On so many levels a great series, from linking Golden and Silver Age heroes; mostly set in tEisner, Harvey and Schuster Award winning limited series. On so many levels a great series, from linking Golden and Silver Age heroes; mostly set in the paranoid anti-Communist USA of the 1950s; including the 1960s Civil Rights cause; incorporating McCarthy's witch hunts; and like Dark Knight, having a great Batman V Superman confrontation. The beauty of incorporating so many origins in the storyline is superb. An absolute must read for superhero book lovers. 9 out of 12 Four Stars. [image] 2013 read...more
Sees an outrageous attack by Prometheus culminate with serious repercussions for Green Arrow and Red Arrow (Arsenal)… and the Justice League itself. GSees an outrageous attack by Prometheus culminate with serious repercussions for Green Arrow and Red Arrow (Arsenal)… and the Justice League itself. Great idea, great read! 8 out of 12. I read the comic books Justice League: Cry For Justice #1-7, Justice League: Rise & Fall, Green Arrow #31-32 and Rise of Arsenal #'1-4. [image]...more
The final pre-DC Comics: The New 52 run on Superman, sees J Michael Straczynski give Superman… depression. Yep, you read that right! As ever StraczynsThe final pre-DC Comics: The New 52 run on Superman, sees J Michael Straczynski give Superman… depression. Yep, you read that right! As ever Straczynski drops something major that no other creator could contemplate and does it well. Some really great issues in this arc. I read the comic books Superman #700-714. 7 out of 12 Three Stars. [image] 2012 read...more
2012 review: The pretty banal tales of Bruce Wayne's return (The Return) and his travel through time (Time Masters), are completely overshadowed by Th2012 review: The pretty banal tales of Bruce Wayne's return (The Return) and his travel through time (Time Masters), are completely overshadowed by The Road Home one-shots with Vicki Vale uncovering some of the Bat identities! 6 out of 12. [image] I read the comic books Bruce Wayne The Return #'1-6, The Road Home one-shots, Batman: The Return and Time Masters: Vanishing Point #1-6. I'd rather just cover them all with this entry than have to create a load of additional reviews for each series and one-shot! [image]...more
2012 review: Grant Morrison's up-vamp of a key comic book franchise goes a bit awry here, with Bruce declaring how he works with Batman and building a2012 review: Grant Morrison's up-vamp of a key comic book franchise goes a bit awry here, with Bruce declaring how he works with Batman and building a global brand, great idea or not, the execution didn't work for me at all. I've always found Morrison a hit or miss creator. I read the comic books Batman Inc. #1-8 and Batman Inc. Leviathan Strikes. 4 out of 12! [image] First stop for Grant Morrison's mainstream comic book writing has be his New X-Men: Omnibus....more
The truly epic Johns led space opera sees the entirety of the Green Lantern continuity combine with the entirety of Crisis continuity to see the cominThe truly epic Johns led space opera sees the entirety of the Green Lantern continuity combine with the entirety of Crisis continuity to see the coming of the Black Lanterns and the evil they bring… and the uniting of the seven Lanterns and DC Universe heroes to combat them, with a shocker of a shocker finale! 7 out of 12 [image]...more
This interesting post-Final Crisis Batman event sees a Gotham without Batman seemingly besieged by a mob war that sees a battling Penguin, Black Mask This interesting post-Final Crisis Batman event sees a Gotham without Batman seemingly besieged by a mob war that sees a battling Penguin, Black Mask and Two-Face, with Jason Todd around. Plus there's a great Oracle vs Calculator battle; a new Azrael and more. An example of the multi-Batman villain, multi story arc, multi Gotham books that had by now become the mainstays of Batman events for over 2 decades! 6 out of 12, Three Stars. [image] 2012 read...more