Review: "Black Panther" #2

You should be happy to hear that Black Panther #2 ties up some of the loose ends of its inaugural issue. And you should be delighted to hear that for every mystery solved Ta-Nehisi Coated will give you at least one new. 

Always engaging and never satisfied with itself, Black Panther constantly expands on the lore and people of Wakanda, whose distinctiveness in the Marvel universe is impressively visualized by Brian Stelfreeze's art and Laura Martin's colors. This is a classic in the making. Believe the hype!

8/10

Further Links:

Black Panther #1

Review (finally): "Black Panther" #1

This one will demand a little dedication and endurance from its readers, as virtually every character motivation and story threat is left in the dark initially. But if you stick around you will eventually be rewarded with one of this year's most skillfully crafted comic stories. 

Highly political, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates constantly explores the difficulties of responsibility for one's own fate and that of a larger society, culture and history, while artist Brian Stelfreeze meticulously captures the majestic nature of Black Panther's characters and surroundings. 

9/10

Review: "Action Comics" #959

We still don't really now why there are about three dozens Supermen in Metropolis here, but at least writer Dan Jurgens has finally started to unravel the mystery a bit. 

Otherwise this remains a fast-paced, fun and entertaining uber-fight between one of the Supermen and Doomsday, in which artist Tyler Kirkham manages to stay on top of the action at all times, with a clear focus of where he is going with it. Even though Lois Lane and Jon Kent still feel like an afterthought here, this is by far the strongest entry among the "Rebirth" Action Comics.

8/10

Further Links:

Action Comics #958

Action Comics #957

Review: "Han Solo" #2

This is easily the best looking Star Wars comic so far, with artistic team of Brooks, Vines and Oback going for a beautifully naturalistic look on the environments, while the warm and earthy colors on characters' faces add additional depth and emotion. Liu's story continues to impress with a fresh take on Solo himself, even though the narrative mode of a sports broadcast seems weirdly out of place for the Star Wars universe. 

8/10

Further Links:

Han Solo #1

"The Good, the Bad and Something About Comics": "Justice League: Rebirth" #1

                + Positive                                        - Negative

Doesn't waste any time in getting to the action Art is in line with other current “Rebirth” titles Convincing dynamic between the “League” members Characters feel distinct and unique Knows how to stage and dramatize the concept of the Justice League

Clark Kent’s conflict of whether to join the Justice League seems largely artificial Generic space-alien-invader Not as funny as it thinks it is

A solid first issue for Justice League that gets to the point immediately, but has still considerable room to improve.

6/10

Keepin' It 360: "Poe Dameron" #4

Poe Dameron opens up a new chapter, and it's all the better for it, as the hard-boiled prison setting benefits the characters of Black Squadron. Phil Noto's art is unspectacular, but aesthetically in line with other current Star Wars comics, while writer Charles Soule fortunately resists the temptation of depicting Grakkus the Hutt too close to Jabba.

7/10

Further Links:

Poe Dameron #1

Poe Dameron #2

Poe Dameron #3

Keepin' It 360: "The Punisher" #3

It's fast, relentless and absolutely captivating, as writer Becky Cloonan manages to portrait a softer side of The Punisher without ever compromising his brutal and ruthless determination. In line with that is artist Steve Dillon's more human approach to Frank Castle, although his depiction of violence and gore remains unfortunately sub-par.


8/10

Further Links:

The Punisher #1
The Punisher #2

Keepin' It 360: "DKIII: The Master Race" #5

By now, DK III probably considers itself more edgy, important and tough than it actually is, as Miller, Azzarello and Kubert gradually trade in compelling storytelling for big graphic gestures. Don't get me wrong, this is still AAA entertainment, from art to writing, but #5 is the weakest entry so far, losing some of the series' drive and direction.

7/10

Further Links:

DKIII: The Master Race #3

DKIII: The Master Race #4

Keepin' It 360: "The Fix" #3

This is somewhat of a surprise, as it hardly advances the comic's main story, but instead devotes itself completely to a new character, Elaina. The Miley Cyrus allusions are obvious, and Spencer's narrator is too patronizing at times, but it still makes for an entertaining read, as Lieber's art and Hill's colors perfectly match the urban madness of The Fix.

8/10

Further Links:

The Fix #1

The Fix #2

Keepin' It 360: "Captain America: Steve Rogers" #2

Most fascinating about this comic is just how much it enjoys itself and all the frenzy it has created. "Hail Hydra" is certainly all the literal rage here (just look at the cover), as Spencer meticulously charts just how Rogers became what he had fought all his life, confirming the theory that was most plausible all the time. Comic narration at its best.

9/10

Further Links:

After the Shitstorm: "Captain America: Steve Rogers" #1

Keepin' It 360: "Darth Vader" #22

Only 3 issues to go before we won't have to endure this anymore. Darth Vader has hit another low point with a uninspired, directionless and confusing story. Featuring cheap twists, utterly annoying droids, mediocre art and Darth Vader himself as a mere caricature of his film version, it doesn't manage to convince on any level. "May the farce be with you."

3/10

Further Links:

Darth Vader #21

Darth Vader #20

Darth Vader #19

Keepin' It 360: "Daredevil/The Punisher" #2

It doesn't have quite the pace the first issue, and character dynamics are a bit off, but the comic still shines with its astonishing art scheme. Its black and gray color palette and the realization of Daredevil's radar sense stand out here particularly. While funny at times, it's Daredevil's gloomy inner conflict about right and wrong that impresses most.

8/10

Further Links:

Daredevil/The Punisher #1

The Good, The Bad and Something About Comics: "Star Wars" (1977) #1

              + Positive                                         - Negative

Good coloring Poetic language fits the story Loose adaptation of “A New Hope” leaves room for some interesting scenes Some interesting new characters

Art is close to the movies, but Luke is drawn too overly masculine (he looks like He-Man) Too much focus on text and dialogue contains the rest of the comic Dialogues are occasionally too close to the original

It's everything you love and hate about 70's comics, but definitely better than Marvel's recent The Force Awakens adaptation.

6/10

Keepin' It 360: "Poe Dameron" #3

Fortunately, this is better than the sum of its parts. Clumsy and childish action scenes, a more than unsatisfying revelation of the "savior", and one and the same expression on Poe's face do tarnish the comic, but its entertaining character dynamics and vivid dialogues, paired with a ubiquitous love for Star Wars itself still make this a worthwhile read.

6/10

Further Links:

Poe Dameron #2

Poe Dameron #1

Keepin' It 360: "Action Comics" #958

This is filler material at best, as the comic focuses entirely on action at the expense of any meaningful story progression. Zircher's art features a worrisome lifeless approach, and Arreola's brownish color palette only adds to the dilemma. Even though the action is solid and entertaining, it will need much more to keep readers invested in future issues.

5/10

Further Links:

Action Comics #958

Keepin It 360: "The Fix" #2

While not quite as good as #1, The Fix is still comic's guiltiest pleasure right now, and a perfect exercise in how to make your protagonists utterly despicable without ruining the overall experience. Lieber's art and Hill's colors impressively support the light and self-ironic tone of The Fix, as Spencer's dialogues, however, don't always get to the point.

9/10

Further Links:

The Fix #1

The Good, The Bad and Something About Comics: "Batman" #1

                   +Positive                                         -Negative

The Batsuit is still amazing. Love the homage to the original Batmobile. Jordie Bellaire's red and yellow color palette makes for an impressive Gotham. The showdown over Gotham impresses visually and dramatically. A more than auspicious ending.

The Justice League references are an afterthought. Dialogues are not always on point. Supporting cast does not convince.

Batman has not yet reached the heights of the Snyder/Capullo years, but this is by no means a disappointing start.

7/10

Further Links:

Batman: Rebirth #1

Keepin' It 360: "Deadpool v Gambit" #1

In the tradition of recent Deadpool writers Bunn and Duggan, Blacker/Acker (hihi!) offer a fun ride that even tries to top aforementioned's work. Admittedly, its avalanche of satirical pop culture and self-references sometimes lack cleverness, but the playful, vivid art and entertaining chemistry between the protagonists make for a convincing first issue.

7/10

Further Links:

Deadpool #14

Deadpool & The Mercs For Money #5

Keepin' It 360: "Detective Comics" #935

Problems persist here, as the "superhero academy" story arc is a directionless mess, including artificial and shallow dialogues and a romance that really no one needs. The comic redeems itself a bit once writer Tynion IV addresses the story surrounding Azrael and the mysterious attackers; but after all it remains a pretty underwhelming experience altogether.

4/10

Further Links:

Detective Comics #934

Review: "Green Arrow" #1

While I'm generally more than suspicious towards stories that relentlessly keep throwing twists and turns at you, there's something about Green Arrow #1 that makes the whole thing work without ever being pretentious or sensationalist. And that "something" is probably writer Benjamin Percy's ability to keep control of what he's actually telling, grounding "The Death and Life of Oliver Queen" in what has already been established in the series "Rebirth" issue.

The chemistry between the main characters, however, still leaves something to be desired, as conflicts re-emerge without progressing any further towards a solution or change. As a consequence, some of the more comedic elements in Green Arrow #1 also don't always manage to hit the mark (I'm so sorry!!!).

Otto Schmidt's pencils and coloring, while not necessarily outstanding, are still more than solid, as he is able to give the comic's villains a distinct and scary look, while also excelling in the general conceptualisation of Black Canary and her superpower.

With still some room to improve, Green Arrow #1 promises an action-packed story line that will hopefully continue to impress in future issues.

8/10

Further Links:

Green Arrow: Rebirth #1

The Good, The Bad and Something About Comics: "Han Solo" #1

+ Positive       - Negative

A more anxious side of Han is an entirely new take on him. Mark Brooks’ art is positively straightforward and clear. The main story is original, entertaining and sufficiently complex. “Dragon Void” race feels like a great addition to the Star Wars universe. Finally a Star Wars comic that gets the larger space panels right. An amazing cliffhanger.

While going for a true-to-life interpretation of Han Solo, Princess Leia looks nothing like the original. The same old skirmishes between Han and Leia become slowly annoying. Barring one exception, the comic’s supporting cast is hardly worth mentioning.

Apart from some minor flaws, this is still as good a first entry as you could have wished for.

8/10

Keepin' It 360: "Superman" #1

"Rebirth" Superman already find his form in issue #1, as Clark Kent takes up the cape and shield with a visual blast by artists Gray and Gleason. It sets up many potential conflicts and encounters, including some more trademark DC characters. Only young Jon does not manage to convince entirely, as he becomes gradually more inconsistent in his emotions.

7/10

Further Links: 

Superman: Rebirth #1

Action Comics #957

Review: "Star Wars" #20

The "Journal's of Old Ben Kenobi" have been among the highlight's of Marvel's Star Wars comics, and this one continues to fill some vital gaps between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, as Obi-Wan is confronted by the deadly Wookie bounty hunter Krssantan. 

Jason Aaron is dead-on when it comes to how one would imagine Obi-Wan to be as a middle-aged Jedi, finding the perfect balance between wisdom and bravery in his depiction. We get to see a slightly different side of Uncle Owen as well, but unfortunately to the expense of Luke Skywalker himself, as you won't see as much of him as you'd probably like.

Artist Mike Mayhew's sometimes naturalistic approach also visually sets this story apart from the series' other entries. It may not be for everybody (and Krssantan definitely looks too much like a gorilla), but his stunning attention to detail, paired with a range of strong colors, particularly manage to shine in the desert environment of Tatooine. 

Star Wars #20 is a treat throughout, whose minor issues never overshadow the sheer quality in both writing and art.

9/10

Further Links:

Star Wars #19

Darth Vader #21

Obi-Wan and Anakin #5

Keepin' It 360: "Deadpool" #14

It's the inevitable Civil War II tie-in, featuring the "Mercs for Money", which surprisingly offers a more complete package than the standalone series did in its last issues. It's still funny and fast, but not as over-the-top, with less anarchist mayhem and more clear-cut ideas. We see a different, more nuanced depiction of the Mercs, and all for the better.

7/10

Further Links:

Deadpool #12

Deadpool & The Mercs For Money #5

Review: "Star Wars: Poe Dameron" #2

Poe Dameron #2 is a solid and skillfully told comic, but suffers from the fact that writer Charles Soule never comes out of the comfort zone provided by well-established Star Wars tales and characters. 

There is Poe himself, who never manages to rise above the status of "Han Solo 2.0", the charming adventurer who can talk himself out of almost every situation. And Agent Terex is the cunning, opportunistic antagonist who plays by his own rules and only uses the First Order as a means for personal advancement, not because he necessarily agrees with their ideology. It's all well done and mostly entertaining, but fails to stand out compared to other of Marvel's recent Star Wars series. Artist Phil Noto, however, has found a clearer vision of where he wants to go with his art, offering an approach that is clearer and more outlined than in #1.

Star Wars fans will be glad to hear that they do get some additional information on Captain Phasma and the inner workings of the First Order. While we have to keep in mind that the comic is narratively limited by the comparably little information provided by the new Star Wars trilogy, a little bit more risk will definitely help this series going forward.

6/10

Further Links:

Poe Dameron #1

Keepin' It 360: "Black Widow" #4

Samnee's and Waid's Black Widow is still at its best when narrated through the former's stunning art. Even though this homage to old spy movies (including some Soviet stereotypes) lets us finally dig deeper into the Weeping Lion's story and motifs, it's Samnee's ability to use arrangement, pace and composition to deliver another strong entry in the series.

8/10

Further Links:

Black Widow #2

Black Widow #3