Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Booster Gold
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Blue Beetle
Story (Blue Beetle): 3.5/5
Art (Blue Beetle): 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Booster Gold, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Batman, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, Dan Jurgens, Day of Death, DC, DC Comics, Golden Child, Guy Major, Harvey RIchards, Hi-Fi, Matthew Sturges, Michael Siglain, Mike Norton, Norm Rapmund, Rip Hunter, Sal Cipriano, Second Feature | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Batman: Reborn (event), cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Red Robin | Tagged: Batman, Batman Reborn, Christopher Yost, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, Francis Manapul, Guy Major, J.G. Jones, Janelle Siegel, Mike Marts, Ramon Bachs, Red Robin, Robin, Sal Cipriano, The Grail | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 2/5
Art: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Filed under: Booster Gold, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Booster Gold, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, Dan Jurgens, DC, DC Comics, Harvey RIchards, Hi-Fi, Keith Giffen, Michael Siglain, Norm Rapmund, Pat Olliffe, Rodney Ramos, Sal Cipriano | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 2/5
Art: 2/5
Overall: 2/5
Filed under: Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Battle for the Cowl (Event), cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Azrael, Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Batman, Battle for the Cowl, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Comics, Fabian Nicieza, Frazer Irving, Guillem March, Janelle Siegel, Mike Marts, Sal Cipriano | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 2/5
Art: 3/5
Overall: 2/5
Filed under: Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Battle for the Cowl (Event), cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Azrael, Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Batman, Battle for the Cowl, Comic Reviews, DC, DC Comics, Fabian Nicieza, Frazer Irving, Guillem March, Janelle Siegel, Mike Marts, Sal Cipriano | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: Booster Gold, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Booster Gold, Comic Reviews, Dan Jurgens, DC, DC Comics, Harvey RIchards, Hi-Fi, Michael Siglain, Norm Rapmund, Reality Lost, Sal Cipriano | Leave a comment »
A Cold Day in Hell
Written by: Royal McGraw
Art by: Tom Mandrake
Colors by: Guy Major
Letters by: Sal Cipriano
Asst. Edited by: Harvey Richards
Edited by: Michael Siglain
Cover: Ladronn
Publisher: DC Comics
I came on way late with GOtham Central back in the day, though after reading the first hardcover realized it should have been tops on my list years earlier. Given the nature of that title, I had high hopes for this issue…hopes that weren’t entirely realized, but not really dashed, either.
We begin with Gordon prisoner of one of Batman’s foes, before flashing back a bit to show us how it is that he came to be in this position. It’s not long before Gordonrealizes that his confrontation with this foe comes down to just them–Batman’s “dead,” after all–and we see James Gordon the cop here, not just a figure calling in Batman with a spotlight on top of a building.
The story’s fairly straightforward here; nothing spectacular. But we do get a look at Gordon and how the GCPD is faring without Batman in town. This doesn’t strike me as a definitive Gordon story–but it’s nothing that seems to really counter anything that’s come before. In fact, it seems to affirm many of the elements of the Batman “universe” I enjoy.
The art’s pretty good, and fits the story. I particularly liked that it managed to in a few particular panels take my mind exactly where I think it was supposed to, invoking other comics and even the Batman animated series from the 1990s (a series that absolutely cannot be ignored in the staging of this issue).
All in all, this was a solid issue, but not really integral to anything. It’s a nice look at supporting elements, but it doesn’t seem likely to inform events of the core mini. Well worth it if you’re a fan of the character or want to see the wider scope of the Batman/Gotham “universe” but not something you’d need if you’re just along for the core Battle for the Cowl series.
Story: 7.5/10
Art: 7.5/10
Whole: 7.5/10
Filed under: Battle for the Cowl (Event), Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon, Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Batman, Battle for the Cowl, Cold Day in Hell, Comic Reviews, Commissioner Gordon, DC, DC Comics, GCPD, Gordon, Guy Major, Harvey RIchards, James Gordon, Ladronn, Michael Siglain, Royal McGraw, Sal Cipriano, Tom Mandrake | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Filed under: Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Battle for the Cowl (Event), Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Azrael, Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Batman, Battle for the Cowl, Comic Reviews, DC, DC Comics, Fabian Nicieza, Frazer Irving, Guillem March, Janelle Siegel, Mike Marts, Sal Cipriano | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to comixtreme.com.
Filed under: Booster Gold, Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: Booster Gold, Comic Reviews, cxPulp.com, Dan Jurgens, DC, DC Comics, Harvey RIchards, Hi-Fi, Michael Siglain, Norm Rapmund, Reality Lost, Sal Cipriano | Leave a comment »
Writer: Landry Q. Walker
Artist: Eric Jones
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Coloring: Joey Mason
Editor: Jann Jones
Cover: Eric Jones
Publisher: Johnny DC/DC Comics
This series just keeps getting better and better.
We begin this issue with an ominous scene of a student running from some clawed beast in the dark of the school’s halls, and then flip back to earlier in the day. We see that Kara is trying to solve her vulnerability-to-Kryptonite problem so that she could be of better use to her older cousin (visualized by a glimpse of her imaginary Moon Supergirl persona). Snapped back to other things she has to deal with, she inadvertantly exposes a cat to the Kryptonite she’s been working on. After Kara, Lena, and Belinda find themselves in a mostly empty school and begin to investigate, they come across a cat that seems to have Supergirl’s powers–and who they discover to have access to an underground lab where other students are being held. Amidst their tussel with the cat, Lena discovers Kara’s dual identity which puts a bit of a strain on their relationship.
This is my favorite issue yet. We wouldn’t be to this point if we didn’t have the earlier issues, as they introduced us to characters and concepts that play roles in this issue’s story. But this issue was just so thoroughly enjoyable that I’m quite sad to realize there are only two issues left. If ever a mini-series should be updgraded to an ongoing, this is one of ’em!
The art is strongly consistent with earlier issues–the primary characters are completely recognizeable, and the style of other smaller/newer characters fit in seamlessly with the established characters. The style puts me (as usual) very much in mind of contemporary animated series one might find on the Cartoon Network, while maintaining the feel of the intended media–this is a comic book, after all, and not a cartoon. The depiction of the cat is particularly amusing.
The story–as said–builds on what’s already been established. Though this is slated to be only a 6-issue mini-series, we have all the trappings of an ongoing series. Characters are changing and developing as we go along, with still loads of potential for continued growth beyond a mere two more issues. The story in this issue is at once self-contained and yet continues to develop over-arching themes.
All in all, this is one of the most enjoyable comics I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommended!
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 8.5/10
Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, Johnny DC, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade | Tagged: Comic Reviews, Cosmic Adventures, DC, DC Comics, Eric Jones, Jann Jones, Joey Mason, Johnny DC, Landry Q. Walker, Sal Cipriano, Supergirl, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade | Leave a comment »
Comic Reviews by Walt 