Stryder's Favourite Comics - 4/24/2013

Another week, another pile of comics!  Let's jump right in!!

Before Watchmen: Comedian #6 (of 6) - "After what you did here, it's better for everyone--you included--if we sent you home."

 The final issue of Before Watchmen has finally hit the stands, as Eddie "The Comedian" Blake is relieved of his duties in Vietnam and finally sent home to the good ol' U.S.A...there to face his final demons and perhaps his destiny as well...

It's been an interesting and controversial run...all of these Before Watchmen titles were bound to get people disagreeing before even a single page was printed.  Having read every issue of every title, I have to say...all the bother wasn't worth it.  Take away the hype, and all you really have are a handful of PG-13 super-hero titles, all very beautiful, with some more satisfying than others.  They complement the original Watchmen novel without stepping all over it and were for the most part pretty entertaining.  Silk Spectre in particular was even insightful!  I'm personally happy to have collected this series, but as time goes by I suspect they'll largely be forgotten while their inspiration, the original Watchmen, lives on forever.  Still, it's been fun!  At the end of the day, that's what I want from my comic books most of all!

Superman, The Flash, Batman, Incorporated and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 3/13/2013

DC Comics releases the World's Most Heartbreaking Comic this week!  What better time than the final week of Winter to mourn a fallen hero?  None!

Batman And Robin #18 - "..."

When Grant Morrison spoke in interviews about the events of Batman, Inc #8 and the aftermath of same, he told us that we'd "cry and cry and cry..."  It didn't take long for his prediction to come true, as this 100% dialogue-free issue of Batman and Robin made me weep like an adolescent girl whose kitten just got run over in the street.

In a "Requiem" issue simply titled "Undone", we join Bruce, Alfred and even Damian's faithful dog, Titus in saying good-bye.  I defy anyone who has ever felt real loss in their lives (and who among us has not?) not to empathize with this silent tribute to the Boy Wonder...I've personally never been so moved by a single 20-page comic book in my life.  This is a beautiful comic book. 

Thanks to writer Peter J. Tomasi and particularly penciller Patrick Gleason, inker Mick Gray and colourist John Kalisz.  Batman and Robin #18 is pure art.  The last page in particular would hang on my wall, if only it didn't make me want to cry every time I looked at it...Amazing!

More Batman, some Before Watchmen and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 3/06/2013

There's a lot going on this week in the DCU as we look at the first comics of March!  But first, a comic that was delayed from February....Superman!!

Superman #17 - "I am tired of you invoking the dead of Krypton!"

"H'El on Earth" concludes here as Superman and H'El do battle to decide the fate of two worlds!!  In Superman's corner are Superboy and the Justice League.  H'El has Supergirl on his side...or does he?  After the events of Supergirl #17, perhaps not...

Also, the mysterious cosmic entity known as the Oracle reaches Earth to communicate his wordless message to the Man of Steel.  But what could it possibly mean?  Is the Earth really...doomed??  This part of the story definitely raises a lot of questions! 

Well, some questions are answered by the end of the issue, but many more will have to wait for another day...for whatever the future may hold, it definitely looks like a job for Superman.

Of course that's not all!  Take a look at Detective Comics, Green Arrow and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 2/27/2013

So, Batman, Incorporated #8 may have been the most-discussed comic to come out in the last 7 days, but that doesn't mean that nothing else was going on!  Certainly not!  Let's take a look at all the OTHER comics I read this week, shall we?

Flash #17 - "I am GRODD.  Destiny is on MY side."

It's the Flash versus King Grodd inside the Speed Force dimension as we come to the Finale of "Gorrila Warfare" this month!  Grodd, having been infused with the same Speed Force powers as the Flash thanks to the treacherous Dr. Elias and his "Speed Force Batteries" was completely dominating the battle in the "real" world, but WITHIN the Speed Force?  Barry Allen SHOULD be the king! 

Of course, you may recall, a handful of innocent civilians (including Iris West) were, unbeknownst to the Flash, trapped within the Speed Force dimension several issues back (issue #7, I think)!  Well, Barry sees some trapped people, but Grodd sees a Hostage Opportunity!  Can even the World's Fastest Man beat the World's Fastest talking Gorilla?

This is a really great and fun conclusion to the arc!  It reminds me why I really love this book, and the Flash!  Good work! I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Aquaman, some Before Watchmen and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 2/13/2013

Lots of comics to check out this week, including of course the much-anticipated finale to the "Death of the Family" event!  Let's sink right in, shall we?

Batman #17 - "I so hope you like it everyone...I made it with lots of love!"

"Death of the Family" ends tonight in the caverns beneath Gotham City, as the Joker's plans for his "Bat-King" come to fruition!  The Clown Prince has managed to capture and subdue Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, Robin, Batgirl and even poor Alfred and it's up to the Dark Knight to try and salvage what's left of his family, now that the clown's had his way with them!  Who knows what might have happened to them while they were alone and helpless in the dark with the maniacal master of mirth??

Of course, in the end, as it always does, it comes down the the Joker and the Batman, face to cowl...order versus chaos...and as always we can only hope that good may, perhaps, prevail...
 
Really fascinating and beautifully rendered ending to this mega-crossover event!  I can honestly say that I was taken by surprise at just how the ending played out.  It's sure to be controversial, and really makes me curious to see how the "Family" will deal with the fallout from this event in the months ahead...

Of course, Batman isn't the only story this week!  Superboy, Batgirl and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 1/30/2013

Every month goes by in a flash when you're a comic book fan, and January is no exception as the last week of comics for the month is already here!  They dumped another 10 issues on me last Wednesday! Here's what I got:

Batman and Robin Annual #1 - "Let's see what the kid has up his sleeve...Game on."

I really loved the story presented in this annual.  It's a tale of Damian and Bruce Wayne, far more than one of Batman and Robin, and a tale that takes a lot of time to add little touches and humanizing qualities to both members of the Dynamic Duo.  Damian sets up a scavenger hunt of sorts for Bruce, sending him around the world in search of special "surprises" that he's cooked up...all of which revolve around getting to know the Wayne family a little better!  Not one to ever play things exactly straight up, however, Damian is using this same opportunity to trick his father into leaving him alone in Gotham City, whereupon he's decided to be "Batman" for a few days all by himself!  How long will it take the "World's Greatest Detective" to clue in to his son's ruse? 

This book really highlights Damian's character and character growth throughout the series and I thought it was great!  I've been pretty worried lately that between "Death of the Family" and Batman, Incorporated, that Damian Wayne may just be killed off...stories like this make me sincerely hope he is NOT!

Superman, The Flash and more after the JUMP!!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 1/23/2013

Hey folks!  Well, January's speeding along quite nicely, and the folks at DC must know it, as they gave me 10 comics this week!  That's a lot, even for me!  Let's take a look!

Justice League #16 - "We are done fearing the surface,  We are done living in terror.  It is time for WAR."

Part three of "Throne of Atlantis" shows the Justice League just how tough the warriors of Atlantis really are!  Aquaman's attempt to reason with his brother Orm, the Ocean Master, has failed and Atlantis is ready to attack.  First goal?  Defeat Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and yes, of course, Aquaman!  There's a battle even an army of underwater warriors may have some difficulty with! 

Meanwhile, Cyborg is working behind the scenes gathering allies and assistance to try and end this war before it starts...but what will the youngest and least experienced member of the League do if he's the last hero standing?  Might he be forced to call for reinforcements??

We also get another Shazam back-up this month!  Black Adam has caught up with Shazam and proceeds to KICK HIS BUTT!!  Seems experience beats youth in this battle!!  Not to mention that the weird magic-eye dude that freed Black Adam is still going around awakening the personifications of the seven deadly sins!  Last month was Sloth, this month...Pride!  What's THAT all about??

Of course there's TONS more going on in the DCU...check it out after the JUMP!!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 12/26/2012

Happy New Year everybody!  2013...we're living in the FUTURE.  Woah.

Of course, the first comics of 2013 aren't released until TOMORROW, but we can still take a look at the last few comics of 2012!  Only 3 titles that I care about last week, but 2 of them promise big things!  Let's take a look at DC's next big crossover, "Throne of Atlantis"!

Justice League #15 - "Did Wonder Woman and Superman just catch an Aircraft Carrier?"

That's right, another major cross-over comes to the DCU as this issue marks the official beginning of the "Throne of Atlantis" story-line that's going to be running in Justice League and Aquaman for the next few months! 

It all starts as aircraft carrier U.S.S. Mabus conducts a missile test that goes horribly wrong...the missiles launch early, and inexplicably their target has been changed to a location deep under the Atlantic Ocean!  This must be sabotage, as of course, the target is Atlantis!!  This unintentional act of aggression from the surface world spurs the Atlanteans, led by Aquaman's brother Orm (aka Ocean Master) to initiate their plans for WAR.

Step one...flood the most heavily populated areas of the Eastern Seaboard, including Boston, Gotham City and Metropolis!  This gives us the opportunity to see Superman and Wonder Woman (who were having a nice date beforehand - Clark talks Diana into "trying out" the secret identity concept, with a pair of glasses and great success!) working together in the skies above Metropolis (making Lois Lane jealous, no less!)

We also get the even less-likely team-up of Batman, Mera and Aquaman in Gotham City!  Cool!  Great start to what looks to be an interesting story!

Don't forget the Shazam back-up!  Billy is starting to understand a tiny bit about what's happened to him.  His new-found adulthood is not all just being legal to buy beer and watch R rated movies...he also has to fight crime!  Too bad he's woefully unprepared to face a very pissed off Black Adam who, at least according to a magic mirror Billy encounters, is coming Shazam's way!

Part 2 of "Throne of Atlantis" in Aquaman and a Before Watchmen title to boot, after the JUMP!!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 12/19/2012

Merry Christmas everybody!

Despite being rather busy roasting chestnuts and hanging stockings and whatnot, I STILL managed to read a bunch of comic books this week! It's all about prioritizing, right? In any case, Santa may be coming to town tonight, but the Joker and H'El are both already here...

Supergirl #15 - "His voice is so cold, like the deepest, darkest corner of space.  But his words...If he can really save Krypton...I have no choice but to follow."

"H'El on Earth" continues as Supergirl agrees to help H'El with his plan to somehow go back in time before Krypton was destroyed and save the planet!  This, despite the fact that she knows almost nothing about H'El or his alleged plan.  Well, Kara hasn't shown very much capacity for calmly and rationally thinking out her decisions and coming to the smartest conclusion in the past, and this is no exception!

H'El takes Kara to the Fortress of Solitude (he "liberated" it from Superman and his guest/patient Superboy in last week's Superboy #15) and, with a touch, simlutaneously shrinks her and teleports her INTO the "Bottle City of Kandor"!  This is the saved Kryptonian city that Brainiac had on his spaceship.  All of it's inhabitants are in stasis and it's guarded by robots, but that shouldn't stop Kara and H'El's astral projection from retrieving a special quantam crystal power source!  Kara is reluctant to remove this crystal, which the city needs, but H'El convinces her that it's all good due to the paradox of time travel.  Yeah, right...

Oh, incidentally, Superman and Superboy are still hanging around in the snow outside the Fortress of Solitude while this is going on, unable to gain entry...crazy!  Maybe they should try going down the chimney!

See what's happening in Gotham City and elsewhere, after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 12/12/2012

Joker fans rejoice!  Death of the Family took over this week with another FOUR tie-ins!  That's one busy clown!  Let's take a look...

Batman #15 - "Look into his eyes and tell yourself he's just a man..."

More of the Joker's nefarious ploy to "strengthen" Batman by separating him from all of the allies who've been, in the Clown Prince's opinion, weakening his brand, is revealed in this stellar continuation of "Death of the Family"! Joker's claiming to know the true identities of the Bat and all of his allies...despite Bruce's insistence that this is impossible.  However, Bruce is harbouring a secret from his "Family" as well...one that may lend credence to the theory that the Joker actually DOES know! 

Or maybe Joker's just messing with all of the Bat-Family's collective heads, trying to turn them against each other?  If so...it may be working!

Guess we'll find out soon enough, as Batman's next step is to accept a party invite from the Joker...a party being held at Arkham Asylum!!  This is bad, but much worse is Joker's promise to all of Batman's allies..."in less than three days, you'll be dead, dead, DEAD by Batman's hand!"

Lots more Joker and some Before Watchmen and Superboy thrown in for variety!  After the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 12/5/2012

All of the comics I am looking at today were released on my mom's birthday.  Happy birthday mom!  Here's some superheroes!

Detective Comics #14 - "Clayface is out of Arkham--out of his mind--and what's already turned into a bad night just got exponentially worse."

So Batman was caught in the middle of a fight between Penguin and Poison Ivy last month that resulted in Ivy calling on Clayface to help her out!  How does she do this?  She breaks him out of jail and MARRIES him!  Or at least...that's how he remembers it.  Knowing Ivy as we do, well..she has a way with men, even if they happen to be made out of clay!

So now it's the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Clayface and...oh, did I forget to tell you that the Joker's still on the loose, too?  This IS a "Death of the Family" tie-in after all!  Batman is not having a great night...

On the other hand...there may be a way to break Ivy's control over Clayface...all it involves is a little detective work and a NEW COSTUME VARIANT!!  I was pretty excited!

While Batman tries to deal with Clayface, the Joker's decided to recruit the Penguin into his plans to toughen up Batman by taking away all of his crutches.  This may mean Mr. Cobblepot's downfall and is guaranteed to be bad news for the Bat-family...but how can a little Arctic bird say "No" to the Clown Prince of Crime??  Even though it might put his whole criminal empire in danger?

Well, that's not all that's going on in the DCU...Action Comics, Green Arrow and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 11/28/2012

Can you believe how fast this year is going?  Already December and I haven't even started THINKING about Christmas.  Or at least I hadn't until I saw all the ADVENTures going on here at FP!  Gonna have to start shopping (probably at the comic book store) but FIRST...let's look at the last of November's comics, yes?

Superman #14 - "I can return Krypton to it's rightful place as the shining jewel of the cosmos."

"H'El on Earth" continues right where we left off in Supergirl #14, as Clark's cousin walks into his apartment in her full costume as he's having a conversation with Lois Lane.  Awkward!!  Luckily, Lois takes Kara for a cosplayer that Clark's interviewing for his blog, rather than the last daughter of Krypton.  Phew!  Clark ushers Lois out the door pretty darn quickly, and then it's up, up and away as the two Kryptonians go somewhere less compromising to discuss Kara's new friend, H'El!  Kara (who is enamoured of the guy after he somehow granted her the ability to understand English) believes H'El's claim that he can somehow save Krypton...Kal-El disagrees...until the stranger in question shows up in the flesh to try to change his mind!

Well, H'El tells us his origin and seems very reasonable until he produces Superboy from somewhere and tells Superman that to prove his good will, he'll now snap the clone's neck!  He should have done his research better if he thinks the Man of Steel will be convinced to join his side by cold-blooded murder!!  Of course a fight starts...one which even Superman will have a difficult time winning!

Of course there's TONS more.  Some new Before Watchmen, Batman Inc and well...see for yourself after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 11/07/2012

Hey folks!  Happy Diwali!  Welcome to a whole new month of comic books!  I have to say, the first week of November started with a bang...so much so that I'm having a hard time deciding what comic to put pre-jump, as I liked them all so much!  Well, when in doubt, I always go with...Batman!  In this case, starring in:

Detective Comics #14 - "Breaking the law only works on your terms.  Isn't that right, Batman?  I'm doing the right thing.  For Gotham...and for the planet."

As this issue of Detective Comics opens, Bruce Wayne is saved from certain death due to an assassination attempt!  His rescuer?  The Penguin!  Of course, since we read last issue, we know that Penguin was also the one who hired the assassin.  Bruce is NOT happy...

Ironically then, Batman ends up trying to HELP the Penguin as the story progresses, by attempting to take down Poison Ivy before she can blow up Shandy Pharmaceuticals, a drug company that's responsibly for some major environmental damage.  Oh, and it's owned by The Penguin!  When Damian asks why he would bother trying to stop Ivy, Batman replies: "Ivy's endangering others.  Herself.  And Gotham...It's the right thing to do."  Argue with that, Boy Wonder!

Oh, amusingly, Alfred is still missing but no-one's worried about it, even though it seems like he's been gone a while.  He didn't bring Damian breakfast (not that he deserves it!).  I imagine we'll find out just what's happened to him next week as "Death of a Family" continues in Batman #14!

New Before Watchmen, Action Comics, Green Lantern and more after the JUMP!!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 10/17/2012

It's a creepy and cold October in the DCU as nefarious plans unfold in the shadows whilst heroes walk about, oblivious.  A storm's coming...but will our heroes be prepared?

Justice League #13 - "I don't BELIEVE in Humanity!  People are Animals!  Animals that fool themselves into thinking that they're something more."

The Justice League is going through some growing pains and it's Wonder Woman versus The Cheetah in her first New 52 appearance this month!  Cheetah, it turns out, is an old friend of Diana's named Barbara who used to work with her and Steve Trevor categorizing potentially dangerous mystic items that were brought back from the field.  Next thing you know, Barbara's pricked her finger on a magic dagger and become possessed by the goddess of the hunt, the Cheetah!

This comes at a time while the team is still dealing with the potential relationship brewing between Superman and Wonder Woman, the resignation and subsequent disappearance of Hal "Green Lantern" Jordan, internal power struggles as Batman and Aquaman debate who should lead the team, and Cyborg's sad lack of a social life and struggle to accept his new life as mostly-a-robot.  Flash, however, is doing fine.  He's cool, thanks...thanks for asking!

"Death of a Family" continues to taunt both us and Gotham City, plus Wonder Woman, Supergirl and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 10/10/2012

It's all about BATMAN this week with the much-anticipated return of The Joker!  Let's get right into it...

Batman #13 - "Hellooo, Gotham's Finest!  Now stop me if you've heard this one..."

With the above words, the Joker returns to Gotham City.  Or if you'd rather, "A clown walks into a police station, looking for his FACE!  HAHAHA!"

The Joker has been missing in action since the very first issue of Detective Comics in the New 52.  However, his presence has often been felt around the edges, most creepily in the remains of his face, preserved on ice in the evidence locker of the GCPD after it was left for them to find one year ago.  Now, the Clown Prince is BACK and this time, he's not interested in pulling punches.  Already in this one comic, you get a sense of danger and madness unparalleled in any other Joker appearance I've ever read.  This Joker is (ok, I know, what a cliche!) WILD!!!

"Death of the Family" is going to be THE epic story this year.  Starting here, it crosses over to most of the Bat titles and will be ongoing until February and Batman #17!  Scott Snyder's "love letter to the Joker" promises to be a must-read!  Who would have thought that the now-classic "Court of Owls" story-line was just a warm-up?  Amazing!

More "Death of the Family" with Batgirl, plus Dr. Manhattan, The Phantom Stranger and more after the JUMP!!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 10/03/2012

Hey folks!  Happy Canadian Thanksgiving (better late than never...like this article)!  It's going to be an exciting month for the DC Universe with "Rise of the Third Army" rocking the Green Lanterns, "H'El on Earth" crossing over the Super titles and of course, the return of the Joker as the "Death of the Family" crossover starts in Batman!  This week's titles, however, touch only on the first of these three epic events!

Green Lantern #15 - "I don't know why I have this ring or what else it can do, but there has to be a reason it came to me."

In last month's Zero Issue, suspected terrorist Simon Baz was busted out of a federal interrogation room by the reintegrated power ring of Hal Jordan/Sinestro.  This month, he awakes on the side of the road wearing a ring that won't come off with no idea what's going on!  All he knows is that he's in big trouble! 

The ring tries to play a message to him, but it's still having some difficulties...it plays a message that seems to be a corrupt mixing of two messages, one from Sinestro and one from Hal...they both manage to impart two important pieces of information to our newest Lantern, however.   1. DON'T go to OA and 2. STOP the Guardians!!!  The Third Army is on the move...while Simon Baz has to get his life in order and figure out what's going on, the Guardian's newest playthings are slowly but exponentially erasing free will from the Universe!

On an aside, I could see liking this new Lantern, but I still hope Hal comes back soon.  If I wanted to read about any old Green Lantern, I'd collect the other Lantern comics.  I only buy this one because I don't want to read about A Green Lantern...I want to read about THE Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.  Hopefully they won't leave him out too long...

New Creative Team on Detective Comics,  plus Action Comics, Green Arrow and more after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 9/26/2012

The final week of the Zero Issue is here!  It's been an interesting month, and quite entertaining, if you're willing to look the other way on a few time-line issues.  Never let logic get in the way of a good back story, I always say!

Anyway, let's start with the nicest super-hero in the DCU!

The Flash #0 - "Stop it Barry.  Just stop.  You've...you've wasted enough time...on a guilty man."

Barry Allen becomes the Flash for the first time right before our eyes in this month's Zero issue!  He also learns some hard, hard truths about the nature of the relationship between his jailed father and his murdered mother.  All of his life, Barry's tried to prove his dad's innocence and find his mother's true killer.  It's what made him want to become a forensic scientist in the first place!  Now, we learn that perhaps the reason Barry can't find any evidence that his father is innocent is because his father is NOT innocent...

Reading between the lines (nothing is stated outright and everything is presented through Barry's eyes as a child), we can gather that Barry's mom wanted a divorce from his dad.  She was seeing someone else.  Possibly Police Captain Darryl Frye.  He's the man who took care of Barry after his mom's death and his dad's incarceration.  He also (unlike Barry's father) bears a strong resemblance to Barry Allen.  Coincidence?  Speculation?  Perhaps...

Oh hey, in with all of this family drama and character growth, there's also the whole matter of gaining super powers, forging a costume that can handle the speed force and foiling some crime for the first time as The Flash!!  Sweet!

Lots more Zero Issues, some Batman, some Superman and a NEW title after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 9/12/2012

Another week of Zero issues commences!  These titles would probably be a great jumping on point if you are really wishing you'd started reading Batman or Batgirl or something last September!  Although of course everyone IS reading Batman and Batgirl because they're both absolutely stellar, right?  Right!

Batman #0 - "I've heard crusaders in Gotham, they end up pretty damn lonely."

It's "6 years ago" and a mysterious vigilante is rumoured to have been spotted in some of the roughest areas of Gotham City, and may be waging a secret war on the Red Hood Gang.  He's been seen most frequently around Crime Alley, where, co-incidentally, the just-returned-to-town billionaire Bruce Wayne has also purchased a new home and is on a mission to turn the neighbourhood around and give it new life!  Commissioner Gordon shows up to ask Bruce if he's seen anything suspicious, but of course Bruce can't help him at all.   Oh, incidentally, although the vigilante has some truly outstanding tech and resources, he in no way resembles a bat...yet!

Oh, the Commish also wanted to ask about any doings that may be transpiring at Wayne Enterprises.  I guess Phillip Kane is running the company in the past and may be up to no good.  No one has any proof, though.

If that's not enough, the stellar back-up story occurs 5 years in the past and  has Commissioner Gordon standing atop police headquarters with his daughter, Barbara, as he's about to debut the Bat-Signal!  We also drop in on pre-Robin Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and Jason Todd for snapshots of what their lives are like and of course their reactions to seeing the now iconic signal light up the night sky for the first time!!  AWESOME!

Did I also mention Batgirl?  Her comic and much much more, after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 9/5/2012

          Zero Month is here!  DC Comics, in celebration of the first full year of the New 52, has decided that all of their titles this month will be released as Issue #0 and feature origins, secrets and other tantalizing nuggets for us, their faithful readers, to enjoy! 
I have to say, I started collecting comics again with the start of the New 52 and it's brought a little happiness into my life every day since!  What started as a Jedi mind trick to help me quit smoking has become a hobby I love!  It still amazes me that something that cost me only 3 lousy bucks can mean so much, but hey...comic books!  There you have it!  So for me at least, the one year anniversary of the New 52 truly is worth celebrating! 

But enough of that...let's get down to business! 

Green Lantern #0 - "Simon Baz of Earth.  You have the ERROR ability to overcome great fear. "

In what is perhaps the only Zero issue set in the present, we get to meet new Green Lantern Simon Baz for the first time this month!  The reintegrated ring(s) of Hal Jordan and Sinestro find our new guy deep inside some secret military prison where he is being interrogated on suspicion of being a terrorist!  Oh, America... To be fair, Simon IS a criminal.  A car thief with a record of illegal street racing.  He just happened to steal a van with a bomb in it this time...You can see why the feds are skeptical as he proclaims his innocence.

All in all, the story of Simon Baz looks like it'll be an interesting one.  I'm far more interested in Hal Jordan and Sinestro, personally, but hey...it always takes me a few issues to warm up to something new.  We'll see how this one goes!  I'm sure, regardless, that the old characters will be back in SOME form or other soon enough...

Action Comics, Detective Comics, some Before Watchmen and a NEW comic after the JUMP!

Stryder's Favourite Comics - 8/29/2012

Big news from the final week of The New 52, year one!  The status quo is getting rocked in the upcoming months, and it looks to be a wild ride!  Let's watch the seeds grow...

Justice League #12 - "People like us are really alone, aren't we?  Do you ever feel alone?"

The big news from the Justice League is right there on the cover, isn't it?  Superman and Wonder Woman...now THAT'S a "Shared Moment."

OF course, that's nowhere near everything that happens this month!  The Villain's Journey plot with David Graves is wrapped up as he tries to reunite everyone on Earth with the spirits of their dead loved ones, including the League!  Hmm, he might not be aware, but typically when someone offers you something too good to be true, well...

In other news, the line-up and leadership of the team are both in question after the big, public breakdown they experienced last month.  Wonder Woman and Green Lantern literally brawling in the streets of Washington D.C. has shaken the world's faith in the "Gods Among Us."  Big changes and even bigger threats are on the horizon!  If the League cannot stand united, who can???

The attack of the Annuals and more, after the JUMP!