Ongoing books from a villain’s point-of-view are notoriously tricky propositions, but Cullen Bunn is off to a solid – if rougher than I’d like – start in Magneto #1. Check out the read/RANT review today!
Cover by Paolo Rivera
Review: Magneto #1
Category Archives: Comic Books
#1 With A Bullet: Mark Waid’s Daredevil
Writing a great first issue is hard. With “#1 With A Bullet”, I wanted to examine some debut issues that worked – or didn’t – in an attempt to figure out just what makes a great first issue… and what common mistakes creators occasionally make. Today, I look at Mark Waid’s fantastic Daredevil #1 and the art of revitalizing a character who has been stuck in something of a rut. Continue reading
Review: Harley Quinn #0
Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner team up with, uh, basically every major artist still speaking to DC for a blessedly playful introduction to their upcoming Harley Quinn series.
Harley Quinn was more damaged than perhaps any other character in the DC Universe (give or take a Jaime Reyes) by the DC Universe ‘soft reboot’ in the New 52. While Harley’s always had a dark, seductive edge, the New 52 stripped her of all her subtlety and most of her clothes, turning her into a vaguely ridiculous facsimile of one of DC’s most iconic female characters. Bits and pieces of the old Harley have resurfaced periodically, but by and large, Harley went from the Clown Princess of Crime to another bland merry murderess in a corset and boy shorts. It was an abysmal redesign. Now, however, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner are taking over and steering Harley Quinn back towards being her own thing, a process that starts in the cluttered-but-playful Harley Quinn #0. 
Continue reading
Review: Batgirl #25 (Zero Year tie-in)
Marguerite Bennett lands on a brilliant concept for a “Zero Year” tie-in, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
Review: Unity #1
Valiant’s first superteam gets a worthy debut issue as Unity tackles a tough prospect with admirable intelligence.
Review: Gail Simone’s The Movement and the Importance of Point of View
The Movement is a book I badly wanted to love. One of the few truly new ideas to emerge from the New 52, it had pretty much everything I look for in a monthly comic, at least on the surface. It had a fantastic premise – superpowered teens fight corruption and wage class warfare – that was extraordinarily relevant to modern society, a diverse cast filled with mostly new characters, and a dedication to building a strong sense of place in Coral City. But The Movement has failed to connect with readers (myself included) in a way that’s rare for writer Gail Simone’s work. Where did it go so wrong? Continue reading
Review: Green Lantern #24, Part 1 of “Lights Out”
DC’s newest event gets off to a shaky start in the underwhelming Green Lantern #24.
Review: Thor: God of Thunder #13
I’m not really familiar with Malekith, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this comic.
It’s not a super-dense plot or anything, but there will nonetheless be SPOILERS
Review: Six-Gun Gorilla #1
No, not the same line as the previously reviewed Six Gun Gorilla by r/R’s own Matthew Derman. This one is done by Brian Christgau and his crew, and is one indie comic definitely worth checking out.
Spoiler warning!
Review: 100 Bullets: Brother Lono #3
This felt lethargic, like it barely had the energy to get to its last panel, and even that was sort of an abrupt and rhythmically poor conclusion.
PROBABLY CONTAINS SPOILERS
Review: Archer & Armstrong #12
While not without its flaws, this is another fun issue of one of the most reliably entertaining comicbooks coming out today.
SPOILERS
Review: Young Avengers #8
It’s zany, it’s funny, it’s got action, suspense, and heart. Maybe not the best issue of Young Avengers ever, but still pretty great.
As always, SPOILERS
Review: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #25
An issue with many ups and downs, and an important ending that just didn’t click with me.
SPOILERS
Review: X-Factor #259
Review: Six-Gun Gorilla #2
Si Spurrier and Jeff Stokely continue to build a fun, impressive, and inventive world and cast.
SPOILERS
Review: Suicide Squad #20
Ales Kot joins as the new writer in Suicide Squad #20, and he brings a little sophistication to a sluggish title.
Review: The Movement #1
The Movement #1 is a rough launch for an interesting book, but despite its flaws, it’s still a must-read title with plenty of room to grow.
Review: Shadowman #0
Shadowman #0 explores the backstory of one of Valiant’s most popular villains in an unusually thoughtful, pleasantly creepy little story.
Review: Young Avengers #4
Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton hit a new high with Young Avengers #4, a whip-smart, gorgeously illustrated issue that cannot be missed.
Review: I, Vampire #19
One of the New 52’s best books closes with a whimper rather than a bang, as a rushed conclusion leaves little room for the book’s incredibly strong supporting cast.
