Category: DC

Written by Ivan Brandon
Penciled by Julian Lopez
Inked by Mark Farmer
32 pages, color
Published by DC Comics

As part of DC Comics’s "Faces of Evil" promotion—where the titles of the company have cover portraits and a special focus on the villains—a handful of one-shots also shipped, each focusing on a different villain. But out of all of the books, I have to admit that one of them really mystified me. In the case of Faces of Evil: Kobra, I found myself really wondering just what the purpose of this comic was.

Continue reading “Faces of Evil: Kobra”

Written by Marv Wolfman
Penciled by Rick Leonardi
Inked by John Stanisci
32 pages, color
Published by DC Comics

In this current market, it can be tough to launch a new series—doubly so if the book isn’t starring a pre-existing sales success like the Punisher. So when DC Comics announced they were launching a new Vigilante series, I was actually a little surprised. While there a Vigilante title years ago, this book stars a new character with the same name. So after two issues, is there enough of a hook to bring readers into a new title?

Continue reading “Vigilante #1-2”

Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza
Penciled by Mark Bagley and Mike Norton
Inked by Art Thibert and Walden Wong
32 pages, color
Published by DC Comics

I actually feel a little bad for Trinity, DC Comics’s current year-long weekly series. When 52 started, it had come right off of Infinite Crisis and had the hook of being an epilogue (of sorts) for that series to grab readers. The follow up of Countdown ended up leading into the big Final Crisis event, even down to having a name-change halfway through to Countdown to Final Crisis. But Trinity? In many ways it’s just existing in a void, entirely on its own, and so I think it’s easy to forget. That’s a shame, too, because as the title hits the two-thirds mark, I think Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Mark Bagley, and the rest of the creative team are really hitting their marks.

Continue reading “Trinity #35”

Written by Ed Herron, Jack Kirby, Dave Wood, and others
Penciled by Bob Brown and Jack Kirby
Inked by Bob Brown, Jack Kirby, Roz Kirby, Bruno Premiani, Marvin Stein, Wally Wood, and others
544 pages, black and white
Published by DC Comics

Despite knowing who they were, I’d never actually read any of the original Challengers of the Unknown comics before, but they sure sounded like fun. Four adventurers living on "borrowed time" (after all surviving a certainly-fatal plane crash) going up against strange creatures, artifacts, and lands? What’s not to love? As it turns out, when reading Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown, it’s good to remember that a little can go a long way.

Continue reading “Showcase Presents: Challengers of the Unknown Vol. 1”

Written by Sean McKeever
Penciled by Eddy Barrows
Inked by Ruy Jose
32 pages, color
Published by DC Comics

The current volume of Teen Titans is one that certainly started out strongly five years ago. Geoff Johns’s line-up of the new generation of sidekicks teamed up with some of the older Titans was a strong one, and for several years it was a big success with me. After Infinite Crisis, though, I’ve been wondering where the book was headed—and for a brief time it finally seemed to be back on track once new writer Sean McKeever had some time to settle in on the book. Now, though, I’m wondering just what the point of the comic even is.

Continue reading “Teen Titans #65”

Written by Mariko Tamaki
Art by Steve Rolston
176 pages, black and white
Published by Minx/DC Comics

Sometimes I can’t help but feel like fate is trying to tell me something. I’ve been meaning to read Mariko Tamaki’s graphic novel Skim for several months now, but keep getting distracted by other things. Then, at a recent convention, I ended up with an advance copy of Emiko Superstar, Tamaki’s new graphic novel for Minx/DC Comics with artist Steve Rolston. I’ve loved Rolston’s art ever since Queen & Country, and Emiko Superstar was just the right size for me to slip into my bag and take on the subway. Well, I almost missed my stop because of Emiko Superstar, but it was absolutely worth the sudden scramble if it meant I got absorbed by Tamaki and Rolston’s story of a geeky girl who tries to find herself on the stage of a freak show.

Continue reading “Emiko Superstar”

Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Michael Gaydos
32 pages, color
Published by DC Comics

If there’s a book that has the proverbial nine lives, it’s Manhunter. By my count it’s been cancelled twice now due to low sales—and then saved both times at the last minute. Clearly, DC’s editorial has a lot of faith in this book. And you know what? You should too. Marc Andreyko’s new addition to the long line of characters named Manhunter is one of the smarter super-hero books on the block, and now’s the best time ever to try it out for yourself.

Continue reading “Manhunter #31-32”