Review: "Green Arrow" #12

While never considerably exceeding expectations or delivering that one special moment, Green Arrow is probably the most consistent of all the "Rebirth" comics. #12 is no exception here, as Oliver Queen needs to cope with the media attention that his reemergence necessarily entailed, while also plotting to antagonise two of his nemeses.  

It is especially Benjamin Percy's love for the character Oliver Queen, thoroughly felt in his playful characterizations, that give Green Arrow this special spark. And even though Percy's take on Queen and his environment are often a bit too superficial (ham monologues included), his insistence on bold and controversial political issues make the comic relevant and challenging at the same time. Combine all that with Otto Schmidt's edgy art and bright and distinct color palette, and you have comic that is satisfying on almost every level.

8/10

Review: "Mother Panic" #1

The first time a new universe or protagonist gets introduced in a comic is always something special, for readers and writers/artists alike. What makes them special? How can they be differentiated from existing heroes/villains? 

DC's Young Animal's Mother Panic, written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards, has a lot of safety nets to fall back on to when doing all the above. Set in Gotham City, the comic has its environment and atmosphere already cut out for it. And what an environment that is. Edwards does an impressive job of capturing the claustrophobia and constant threat that permeates every bit of Gotham's architecture.

The sense of safety and familiarity also pervades the comic's protagonist and hero, Violet Paige. While it is certainly refreshing to see a rich female socialite for a change, she is still a Gotham socialite. While a fresh take on the concept could have still been interesting, Houser, unfortunately, relies too much on well-known stereotypes (including her family "situation) in her characterization of Violet.

A definite advantage for Mother Panic, though, is how clearly and entertainingly it establishes a storyline and villain, letting readers know what this will be about from the outset. It surely is the most straightforward and accessible of the "Young Animal" titles so far, and by adding a few tweaks for its protagonist could be even more compelling in the issues to come.

8/10

Review: "Poe Dameron" #8

Agent Terex wasn't necessarily a fan favorite among Star Wars comic readers. Poe Dameron's tight-lipped antagonist checked too many boxes of not just Star Wars, but Sci-Fi baddies in general. While writer Charles Soule managed to establish Poe Dameron as a somewhat distinct and layered character, Terex remained ironically bland at best. 

The more surprising (and definitely welcome) it is now that we get such a well-executed and entertaining origin story of the First Order agent, which even manages to tie in with some of the motives explored in The Force Awakens. The character goes through such a substantial and engaging transformation that one has to wonder why it took the comic eight issues to finally tell it. 

Poe Dameron was already the best Star Wars comic around, where intelligent storytelling, fresh characters and Phil Noto's wonderfully varied art make the galaxy feel truly alive. Now we got ourselves a credible villain as well.

8/10

Review: "Han Solo" #4

Han Solo #4 confidently confirms the impressions of the first three issues: this is the best Star Wars series on sale at the moment. Why? Because writer Marjorie Liu does what may sound easy, but is actually hard to achieve: combine the traits of proven Star Wars characters and environments, but add new layers to it. 

Thus everything in Han Solo feels fresh, even though it gives readers a certain sense of familiarity which is certainly desired in any Star Wars publication. All that comes with a story that very effectively combines combat, racing and detective story elements, and art and colors by Mark Brooks, Sonia Oback and Matt Milla that manage to convince both on the small and large scale with its beautiful, realistic approach. All in all, Han Solo #4 makes for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. 

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "The Fix" #5 / "Cyborg" #1 / "Batman" #7

"The Fix" #5: Aside from having two lead protagonists that are among the best in comics in 2016, the true strength of The Fix is writer Nick Spencer's ability to create supporting characters (the mayor of LA it is here) that are so wonderfully unique and over-the-top, you just can't stop laughing. 

9/10

"Cyborg" #1: A rather surprising issue that predominantly deals with Victor's "soul search" and the emotions it entails. Writer John Semper jr. proves here that he can well handle that emotional side of Cyborg, without ever being in danger of making it kitsch.

8/10

"Batman" #7: Coming from the heights of the "Gotham and Gotham Girl" story arc, this Halloween crossover looks like the first major bump in Batman's "Rebirth" run. It all seems half-baked, with a story that is neither very scary nor thrilling nor even entertaining. And who needs a ripped Hugo Strange?

5/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Cyborg: Rebirth" #1 / "Deadpool & The Mercs For Money" #3 / "Superman" #6

"Cyborg: Rebirth" #1: It's exactly what you'd want from a "Rebirth" title, with its concise Cyborg origin story and a premise that is able to set this series apart from its predecessors. One to have an eye on in the upcoming weeks.

8/10

"Deadpool & The Mercs For Money" #3: Cullen Bunn and The Mercs For Money have, gladly, arrived at the same conclusion: Deadpool is better off without the Mercs, and vice versa. While there were some fun moments throughout the various series over the last year, undoubtedly the team-up has lost much of its chemistry and dynamic in recent outings. Go Deadpool, but go alone. 

6/10

"Superman" #6: First it's a large-scale fight (with, admittedly, some quite confusing art by Patrick Gleason), and then a pompous celebration of the return of Superman. It all feels a bit thin for one entire issue, as Gleason and Tomasi clearly seem to have run out of steam towards the end of the "Son of Superman" storyline.

8/10

Review: "Nightwing" #2 / #3 / #4

Nightwing has come a long way from its inaugural "Rebirth" issue, and it has improved in nearly every aspect. Confusing storytelling and character presentation has given way to a comic that clearly knows what it wants from its main characters and what it plans to do with them in the future (although the first story arc ended a bit too abruptly; one more issue would have left readers at a slightly more satisfying conclusion).

Seeley has managed to give Nightwing a distinct voice and attitude that clearly sets him apart from other heroes in the DC Batman family. And Raptor is a hero/villain/frenemy that I am definitely looking forward to seeing more from in subsequent issues. 

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Batman Beyond" #16 / "Green Arrow" #6 / "Justice League" #4

"Batman Beyond" #16: Read this if you want to start with "Batman: Beyond Rebirth" next month, as it'll give you a much better insight of what's going to happen. Apart from that, it's a pretty solid and entertaining read.

7/10

"Green Arrow" #6: Now with the start of a new story arch, it's clear to see that Benjamin Percy has a clear idea and concept of what he want's to do with Green Arrow's characters going forward. Intriguing, captivating, and loads of fun.

8/10

"Justice League" #4: It sure is highly entertaining, but Hitch does little in this issue to advance either story or character progression. Also, trying to give every Justice League member the same amount of "screen" time is a noble cause, but focusing on the more important aspects and characters would have definitely helped here. 

6/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Bombshells Annual" #1 / "Aquaman" #6 / "Batman" #6

"Bombshells" Annual #1: It sure looks fantastic, especially when artist Charretier wonderfully captures the atmosphere and look of 1910's France. But for all the narrative innovation and verve found in the annual's first part, the second part will largely disappoint with its uninspired dialogue and characterizations.

6/10

"Aquaman" #6: A bit of fresh air, here in the form of the President's right hand (a.k.a. Superman), might just be what this series needed, as it was in danger of drowning (get it!?) in mediocrity.

7/10

"Batman" #6: A heartfelt and truly excellent interlude before what promises to be an exciting new story arch. Tom King manages the almost impossible in offering a fresh spin on Bruce's (and, naturally, Gotham Girl's) trauma of losing their parents. Not only the best Batman Rebirth title, but the best Rebirth title at all so far. 

10/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Batgirl & The Birds of Prey: Rebirth" #1 / "Nightwing: Rebirth" #1 / "Star Wars" #22

"Batgirl & The Birds of Prey: Rebirth" #1: That's how a "Rebirth" issue should be: a proper and interesting introduction to Batgirl and Barbara Gordon, and the Huntress makes for a perfect "frenemy". Thoroughly fun.

8/10

"Nightwing" #1: The depiction of Nightwing is nuanced and intelligent, and his relationship and dynamic with Damian Wayne is simply superb, but what the hell is going on half of the time? You'll have a hard time following the plot if you haven't been into Nightwing before. 

6/10

"Star Wars" #22: To see the Rebels fight an empirical starship is gripping and entertaining, unfortunately though, some narrative holes spoil the party a bit. The eventual encounter between SCAR Squad and Han, Luke and Leia promises to be epic.

7/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Deadpool" #17 / "Action Comics" #962 / "Detective Comics" #939

"Deadpool" #17: To sell this as a "Civil War II" tie-in is simply ridiculous, as it has simply no connection whatsoever to Marvel's big summer event (a fact even admitted by Duggan in the comic's intro page). Apart from that? Nothing to report, just the same old Deadpool shtick. This series needs some fresh new ideas, and the Mercs for Money should stick to their own series.

5/10

"Action Comics" #962: The Doomsday storyline is over (for now), and the series closes it in solid but unspectacular fashion. Kudos to Jurgens though for gradually developing and shaping the comic's characters.

7/10

"Detective Comics" #939: Admittedly, the series started out quite slow, but by now has come full circle in terms of drama, dynamic and great action set pieces. Can't wait for the conclusion.

 8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Superman" #5 / "Wonder Woman" #1 / "Deathstroke" #1

"Superman" #5: The action is solid here, as the "Son of Superman" storyline slowly approaches its conclusion. But the real highlight here is the Kent family going crazy with Batman's gadgets in his moon cave. Pure fan service that is.

7/10

"Deathstroke" #1: Its narrative mode, where little chapters jump back and forth in time is a good choice of telling the comic's story, but Deathstroke himself, unfortunately, has lost some of the grit and mercilessness of the "Rebirth" issue. 

6/10

"Wonder Woman" #1: It's reliance on art over dialogue continues to be a thorough success for "Wonder Woman", perfectly fitting the protagonists sturdy quest for truth. One of DC's best "Rebirth" titles.

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Green Arrow" #5 / "Poe Dameron" #5 / "Daredevil/The Punisher" #4

"Green Arrow" #5: This terrific storyline ends with the blast it deserved, as Benjamin Percy skillfully concludes the conquest of The Inferno and Juan Ferreyra again displays his great artistic talent.

8/10

"Daredevil / The Punisher" #4: Charles Soule is one of the most prolific comic book writers around at this time, but this is easily his most outstanding piece of work right now. From the great chemistry of the two protagonists to an absolutely intriguing story and memorable art by Szymon Kudranski, this has it all.

9/10

"Poe Dameron" #5:  This has sneakily become the best Star Wars series on sale right now. Its mostly careless fun, with a tone that effortlessly fits into that established by The Force Awakens and a protagonist that feels less and less just like a Han Solo copy. 

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Deathstroke: Rebirth" #1 / "Aquaman" #5 / "Batman" #5

"Deathstroke: Rebirth" #1: You'll sincerely hate Slade Wilson pretty much from page 1 here, and this evocation of strong disdain is probably Priest's greatest achievement, setting up Deathstroke as one of the best villains in DC's "Rebirth" universe so far.

7/10

"Aquaman" #5: "Aquaman" has become a pretty pointless affair by now, as it has lost even the last bits of verve that it might have had in the beginning. The action here is at least semi-entertaining, but the story is moving nowhere at all. Disappointing. 

4/10

"Batman" #5: The story of Gotham and Gotham Girl ends with a blast, and the additional pieces of information on the siblings' origin are truly fascinating. King has managed to establish a truly compelling pair of characters here, and I'm looking forward to see more of them in the next issue.

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Supergirl: Rebirth" #1 / "Wonder Woman: Rebirth" #1 / "Batgirl and The Birds of Prey" #1

"Supergirl: Rebirth" #1: It does a good job of introducing Supergirl and what we can expect from the series going forward, but its Kryptonian werewolf story does not have too much to it so far.

6/10

"Wonder Woman: Rebirth" #1: 

If only every one of DC's "Rebirth" issues could have been like this one... Taking into account all the different origin stories and versions of Wonder Woman, this properly sets the stage for the character going forward. 

9/10

"Batgirl and The Birds of Prey" #1: A whole lot of fun with an engaging story and three main characters that really click. It's exactly what you'd want from the Birds of Prey.
8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Aquaman" #4 / "Batman" #4 / "Daredevil" Annual #1

"Aquaman" #4: It's all pretty much what you'd expect, as the relationship between Atlantis and the USA deteriorates rapidly. It's good, but never really tries to do anything differently.

6/10

Batman #4: An unexpected and bloody twist for the "Gotham" heroes, and Batman teams up with an unlikely ally. Great coloring again, as King seems to find his voice already early as the series' main writer. 

8/10

"Daredevil" Annual #1: It's everything you'd expect from an "Annual". Unusual art, storytelling, the exploration of exciting support characters. An absolute blast.

9/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Detective Comics" #938 / "Superman" #4 / "The Punisher" #4

"Detective Comics" #938: We see more and more classic Batman themes and moves in "Detective Comics" recently, and it is all the better for it. The dynamic between Batman and his team has also notably improved, making this a solid read throughout. 

7/10

"Superman" #4: The series seems to have finally found its rhythm and footing, while Jon's significance to it grows with every issue.

7/10

"The Punisher" #4: It's a pure joy how pissed off and angry everyone here just is. Not as violent as you might have hoped for, but still really, really good.

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Daredevil" #10 / "Black Panther" #5 / "All Star Batman" #1

"Daredevil" #10: It takes a while for this new story arc to get out of the gates, but once in full swing, it is a thoroughly strong statement, artistically and narratively, from Soule and Garney.

8/10

"Black Panther" #5: Not quite the action yet promised after #4, but the interconnectedness and complexity of the comic's themes and motifs still makes this a must-read of 2016.

8/10

All Star Batman #1: Its theme of the potential evil which lurks in every common citizen and just needs to be triggered is nothing new in Snyder's Batman lore (just think of the "Mr. Bloom" story line). However, everything else here isn't, as Snyder, Romita and Shalvey go crazy with what Batman can be in 2016. 

10/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Deadpool & The Mercs For Money" #2 / "Action Comics" #961 / "Darth Vader" #24

"Darth Vader" #24: It's a small glimpse of what this series could have been, if only Kieron Gillen had remotely made use of the potential a character like Darth Vader offers. Too little too late, even though this one here convinces.

7/10

"Action Comics" #961: This is still solid, even though one cannot help but feel that Jurgens has to get the story to some kind of conclusion soon (or shake things up, respectively) if he doesn't want to risk that the series becomes directionless.

7/10

"Deadpool & The Mercs For Money" #2: If you didn't particularly like the first series, you should definitely give this one another try. Deadpool's better, the Mercs a lot deeper and more dynamic, and the cast of villains is highly compelling. 

8/10