Flash Friday!

Batman #12-  This issue was AWESOME!  Scott Snyder spends the entire issue on two new characters who could bring SO MUCH to the Bat Family comics.  Cullen and Harper Row are siblings who live in Gotham.  They are on their own and hiding from their dad (we don't know why though).  Harper is a great sister and a talented electrician.  She works on the power grid under Gotham City.  When she and her brother are saved from some thugs by Batman, she decides to help him.  She figures out how he works in the power grid of the city and she even helps him in the sewers once.  Next month's book will be the zero issue which is supposed to show us all the things that are part of being Batman.  Then in October, we're supposed to get dumped into the next storyline in which the Joker returns to the New 52.  I really hope that Cullen and Harper have big parts to play in the future of Batman.  This book earns 5 Flashes for a great book with great characters!

Find It: In Print at MyComicShop or Digitally on Comixology.

Batman & Robin #12- This issue is EPIC and just what the fans have been praying for.  Batman and Robin take on Terminus but they don't have to do it alone.  Tim, Dick and Jason come to their aid just when things are looking down for the Dynamic Duo.  The first scene of them all together is great.  Jason saving Damian while making NON KILL shots on the bad guys.  Dick and Tim in the background.  There is even a legendary frame of the four Robins looking off into the sky as they watch Batman disarm a missile.  Sure, the Robins go their separate ways in the end.  Damian offers Dick a ride home in the Batmobile while Tim and Jay go off to their respective homes/teams.  But still, it is a start for some epic Bat Family stuff.  Jason and Tim have bonded in a flash back in RH&TO.  They seem to be dealing with being former Robins out on their own.  I just hope that the entire Bat Family will continue to work together on and off.  It's the stuff that dreams are made of.  I give this issue 5 Flashes for general awesomeness.

Find It: In Print at MyComicShop and Digitally on Comixology.

Superboy #12- Superboy is actually a good read lately.  I really enjoy Kon and Miguel's friendship.  This isn't the preboot Kon with his epic friendship with Tim but it is almost better.  I really like seeing Superboy kind of dropped into the world not nearly as worldly wise as he was in his preboot form.  It's just really interesting to see how he navigates the world around him.  I can't wait to see where his story arc takes him next.  He has a cameo at the end of Ravagers #5 and I wonder how he is going to move forward.  Will he stay a hero or will the rules become too much and he'll turn more to the anti-hero path like the Red Hood.  The art has reached a level of quality that is superior to where it was when the series began.  I give this book 3 Flashes because it is good but it could always get better.

Find It: In Print at MyComicShop and Digitally on Comixology.

Arkham Unhinged #5-  This book covers the mystery behind Hammer and Sickle from the game.  It was great to see Batman discussing the case with Nightwing as they looked further into who the men are and how they came to be in Arkham City working for different bosses.  Hammer and Sickle are two of the lieutenants in the video game that come back again and again to drive you nuts.  I really enjoyed seeing the back story of these two because it almost makes no sense that they would be there.  Batman and Nightwing piece together the story how how they came to Joker and then were separated.  Dick had some great lines that really showed his character which was also lovely because his character in the game in has so few words.  All around this issue earns 4 Flashes for a great companion book to the game.

Find It: In Print at MyComicShop and Digitally on Comixology.

Ravagers #4-  This book is a little confusing as we really don't know how the Ravagers really came to be.  We know what happened in the Culling and what happened after they gained some amount of freedom but how did they gain their powers and why remains to be seen.  Beast Boy and Terra are not really with the others but they do find the others in this issue when they all have to deal with Brother Blood and his cult. Beast Boy seems older and edgier without any of Garfield Logan's endearing backstory.  It seems that sadness and strife are the back story to all of the Ravagers.  Fairchild seems to think that she made a mistake in helping the teens gain their freedom.  She doesn't see them as heroes but loose cannons who could destroy the world.  I think that they all have the potential to be heroes but we're going to have to stick around to see if that is actually going to happen.  I give this issue 2 Flashes because of how confused I am with it right now.  I hope that the book will continue to improve as we learn more about the Ravagers.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop and Digitally on Comixology.

Next time, I'll have Blue Beetle, Red Hood and the Outlaws, Birds of Prey, Nightwing and hopefully, DC Universe Presents: Kid Flash.  Hope to see you all back then!

Flash Friday!

The pull this week was awesome!  We didn't get comics last week because of the holiday so this week we had: Arkham Unhinged 4, Batman 11, Batman & Robin 11, Superboy 11, Green Arrow 11 and Ravagers 3.  It was an awesome week to be a Batman fan for sure!  All the DC comics have a little ad strip across the top of the covers for The Dark Knight Rises, there was a great picture of the audience for Scott Snyder's comic con panel and there was word that in the new releases due out in September, there will be a new Batman spin off title: Talon.  Sounds interesting.  I also got the awesome news that contrary to a rumor going around, Blue Beetle will not be canceled after the August issue.  There's still hope for Jaime yet!  Now, on to the comics.

Green Arrow #11-  This may be the best issue of Green Arrow yet.  I love that we are FINALLY getting the activist Ollie back.  He's still abrasive and a jerk but that is Ollie's personality too.  I really enjoyed getting to see Ollie as more than a brash, womanizer who only wants to help himself.  Oliver Queen is far from perfect, but he believes in doing the right thing and helping others.  How can you be a hero if you don't?!  I'm still a little unsure about the art but I think we're getting there.  Ollie looked a bit like a boy band member again but at least his character is right and Green Arrow is doing what he does best: fighting like hell even when the chips are down.  I give this issue 4 Flashes for a book that is finally starting to live up to my expectations.  I still miss the Van Dyke though.  Seriously, the facial hair made Green Arrow and now we're just going to have to get used to not having it.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

The Ravagers #3-  Ravagers is ... interesting, this issue.  We see Brother Blood searching for the Ravagers because one of them is the key.  Whatever that means.  It can't be good because when Brother Blood shows up... things go down in a BAD way.  Beast Boy sees Brother Blood's coming in a vision and rushes to rescue those who are being sacrificed to the cult.  I'm still not used to him being red.  Fairchild, Ridge, Thunder and Lightning are confronted by Blood and his cult followers.  I really don't think that is gonna end well for Thunder at least.  Yuck.  I'm not really sure where the story is going yet but it's interesting enough that I want to find out.  This book earns 3 Flashes for a pretty good book with decent art.  I have high hopes for Terra and BB so I hope things pan out for them.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop and Digital on Comixology.

Superboy #11-  I really liked this issue.  Probably my favorite Superboy to date.  (New 52 wise.)  I loved seeing Kon and Bunker together.  It's still weird to know that they exist in a world that has not yet embraced the heroes who routinely save them.  I liked the dynamic of Bunker and Kon bonding and working together.  It was sad not to see Kon bonding with Tim since their pre-reboot selves had an epic friendship but maybe Bunker is going to be something amazing and maybe his friendship with Kon is going somewhere.  My only complaint about this book is that Kon looks amazing on the cover and he looks like a dork.  I wish the inside looked as nice as the outside- as far as SB is concerned.  The dialogue was really well written and I loved the moment when the burly guy that Bunker rescues hits on him.  I kinda want to just go "now kiss" and smush their little faces together, Bunker and Kon that is.  I think they work well together and that they kind mesh well.  I also hope that this incarnation of Kon doesn't end up with Cassie.  I hate that they always stick them together.  But I guess we'll see.  Overall this issue earns 4 Flashes for a book that I loved but the interior art of Kon was lacking and it should not be- it is HIS book.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop and Digital on Comixology.

Arkham Unhinged #4-  This issue has a number of back stories contained in one place.  We see how Harley and Joker started out in Arkham City, that hallucinations have been making their way through the city, how Mr. Freeze ended up in Arkham City and how badly Dr. Hugo Strange wants to bring down Batman.  I love the art in these comics.  They are so visually stunning.  I also appreciate the back story that we get in this series.  The Arkham City game is great and getting to see more of what happened between the Arkham Asylum game and the Arkham City game storylines is really great.  I give this book 4 Flashes for great art and interesting story lines.  I hope we get to see some Robin and Nightwing.  That would make these books.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop and Digital on Comixology.

Batman #11-  It's the end of the Court of the Owls story line.  It's a gritty, fast paced and satisfying ending for sure.  We learn as much as we can about the truth behind Lincoln March, the Court of Owls and the Pennyworths and Waynes.  I loved the scene with Bruce and Dick interacting.  So good.  It was great to see Dick acting like he always has.  He brings lightness to the Dark Knight and he heals Bruce when he needs it.  They just work so well together.  I love it.  The trust and respect that has built up over the years between them is just epic.  The art in this issue is great- as always.  I loved every moment of this issue and can't wait to see where Scott Snyder is going to take us next.  This book earns 5 Flashes for a great comic with wonderful story and art.
Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

Batman & Robin #11-  In this issue, Damian fights the Red Hood for well, the Red Hood.  I loved seeing them together.  I just wish that Damian was old enough and mature enough to really grasp what Jason was telling him.  Terminus also has his people running through the city branding people with the bat symbol which leads Batman and Robin to take the fight to them.  It's interesting to watch Bruce and Damian work together.  Damian is not like Tim, Jason or Dick as Robin.  Damian has issues with following orders and listening but he also has a hard time with not criticizing his dad.  Damian will make a great Batman but I think he will always struggle with being Robin.  He works so well on his own but he needs to find a way to meld his style of Robin with his father's style of Batman.  They are well on their way but they just aren't there yet.  Tomasi is a master of writing Damian and this book earns 5 Flashes for a great story and good art.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital at Comixology.

Next week we'll have Birds of Prey, Blue Beetle, Justice League, Nightwing, Red Hood & the Outlaws and Young Justice!  Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy this panel from Batman & Robin #11- Damian is SUCH a little troll!!

Flash Friday!

Howdy and welcome back to Flash Friday!  This week's pull was huge!  We got: The Flash, Aquaman, Savage Hawkman, Arkham Unhinged, Justice League, Teen Titans, Batman Incorporated and our kiddos got the new Superman Family Adventures.  Let's start with the Flash since it is his day and all.

The Flash #10-  What a beautiful book!  Marcus To helps out Francis Manapul with this issue of The Flash.  What beautiful art!  Flash is up against Weather Wizard, Marco Mardon, the head of the Mardon crime family.  Flash is also racing against time to save the girl he loves, Patty, from Mardon's goons.  This book is so dynamic and lovely... Marcus To has done a perfect job of keeping his work compatible with the general look of Flash that Francis Manapul has created.  This book is gorgeous and the story is both exciting and heart wrenching.  If you aren't reading The Flash- you are missing out.  It's easily my favorite of the New 52.  I give this book 5 Flashes for having it all: a great story and lovely art.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital at Comixology

Teen Titans #10-  This may be one of the best issues of the Teen Titans yet.  Superboy and Wonder Girl find the others.  Bart runs with dinosaurs and macks on Solstice.  The Titans return to the real world.  This issue has some great moments.  Bart is finally happy and you really get to see a bit of that character that we all loved before the reboot.  Superboy hugs Tim.  There's hope for their epic, World's Finest friendship.  The art is lovely as always but a good amount of the dialogue falls flat as usual.  The hug is great but felt a tad forced.  Tim had to have Bunker talk some sense into him which was awkward for me to read but it had to happen.  If the reboot is treating this like his first leader experience, then he will second guess himself.  I'm interested to see what happens next.  I've heard that we'll get to see Bunker and Kon together in New York.  That should be interesting.  Teen Titans earns 4 Flashes for this issue that I love so much that I'm buying an extra.


Find it: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital at Comixology.

Batman Incorporated #2-  Talia al Ghul is at war with Batman and her father.  She believes that she has killed her son and that now she can take down Batman and Gotham.  While Ras al Ghul may be impressed with her, I'm not.  Batman will kick her crazy butt.  This book is basically all the Talia al Ghul backstory that you could ever need.  There are some funny or interesting scenes but overall, I want to see more Damian.  However, Ras al Ghul picking up Talia's mom at Live Aid and him holding her up Lion King style were pretty funny.  But at the moment, I don't like Talia one bit.  Any one who can hurt their own child is evil in the worst way.  I can't wait to see Bruce kick her butt.  I'll enjoy every moment of it.  I just hope Damian doesn't have to see just how awful she is.  But there's a reason that Grant Morrison has the reputation that he does.  I give this one 3 Flashes because it honestly wasn't as good as the previous book. It's important to the story arc but not great on its own.


Find it: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

Arkham Unhinged #3-  This issue focuses on the animousity between the Joker and Penguin before Arkham City and inside it.  The art is great and I enjoyed the play between Joker and Penguin.  You get bits and pieces of it in the video game but not as fully as in this comic. It's also interesting to see the work inside Arkham City that Batman put in prior to the moment that he gets locked in at the beginning of the game.  This series is a great one for fans of the game and Batman fans as well. The numbering in the digital comics is different and each print book compiles what looks like 3 digital ones.  I give this issue 4 Flashes for an interesting story that helps bring the world of Arkham City to life.

Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

Next week will have Green Arrow and the other three issues left from this week.  Hope to see you back then!

Flash Friday!

Hi everyone!  I'm SO glad to be home after the long and excitement filled week that was BEA.  I managed a trip to Forbidden Planet in New York while I was there (in between long busy nights and exhaustion)!  It was really nice to be in a comprehensive comic shop where I could find toys, manga, collected editions and more all in one place but the same day that I got back from NY, I HAD to run to my local store to get my pull list comics.  So, in today's post I have the comics that I got at Forbidden Planet, the ones I got on my return and the ones I got on Wednesday.  It's some great stuff!!

Batman & Robin #10-  I wish I had read this one before BEA so I could have high fived Peter Tomasi for it.  This issue proves that he knows his Robins.  Tumblr is littered with posts about this issue because it is so lovely.  You really get the personality of everyone in the Bat Family and it's SO great.  Dick is the peace keeper whose heart breaks when Damian challenges his brothers.  Tim is trying to be his own hero now but that doesn't out weigh his dislike for Damian.  Jason is cracking jokes to cover his pain but still I think he's honored to be considered a Robin and worthy.  Even though we all know he'd never admit it.  Bruce is trying to make everyone into a perfect vision of a family for his portrait but really, the rough edges are what make them a family.  Titus just follows Damian. Alfred isn't entirely comfortable with his inclusion in "family".    The art is -as always- beautiful.  This book is just amazing and I know Robin fans will be buying this one up!  And there's more Robins coming!  Batman & Robin #10 earns 5 Flashes for having all the makings of comic perfection.
Find it:  In Print on MyComicShop.com or digital on Comixology

Batman: Arkham Unhinged #1-  This book is part of the series that was initially released as digital but is now being released in print.  It's a companion story to the video game Batman: Arkham City.  My son and I love Arkham City and we've played it though at least twice now.  It's great and this first book covers the basis for the Catwoman and Two-Face Feud that plays out in the game.  The art is wonderful and I love that we're getting the prequel to the game- essentially.  My only complaint is the same one that I have with the game.  Is Selina's zipper broken??? Is her chest held in with tape??? How does she flip off buildings and fight with thugs and not have her chest flying all over with that zipper so open?!  It defies gravity and all of the laws of physics.  It does.  Batman Arkham Unhinged earns 4 Flashes because the improbability of Selina's decolletage loses it a Flash.

Find it:  In Print on  MyComicShop.com   or digital on Comixology

Batman #10-  I'm convinced that there's a school that you have to attend before you can write the main line Batman books.  It's were they teach you to write comics that will blow people's minds and completely leave them confused by the end of the book.  You never see the truth coming at you in a Batman book.  NEVER. It just sneaks up on you and smacks you in the face.  It's the thing that makes it a Batman comic- the psychological element.  This new back story that is coming to light in Batman #10 is pretty interesting as it dovetails in the Pennyworths and ties them to the Waynes and Batman's origin.  I really loved this one.  It's everything that a Batman book should be.  All the highest of fives to Scott Snyder on his genius.  Batman #10 earns 5 Flashes for a mind melting story with great art.

Find it:  In Print on MyComicShop.com or Digital on Comixology.

Superboy #10-  This issue has a guest artist, Sebastion Fiumara, and his art is AMAZING!  He should be put on SB permanently.  He made this issue.  In this issue we see Superboy and Wonder Girl stranded on some Land of the Lost type island.  There's definitely some tension between them but I'm glad that Lobdell didn't just go and throw them together like we've seen happen over and over.  Kon gives Cassie the name that Kara gave him when she saw him a few issues back.  He learns about eating and how to not get to kiss Wonder Girl. In the next SB issue, he goes to New York with Bunker which sounds like the best idea I've ever heard.  I really enjoyed this book.  Really.  This has to be my favorite issue of Superboy yet.  Can't wait to see the team find each other again in Teen Titans 10!!  Superboy 10 earns 4 Flashes for a great book that is beautiful to look at but the writing is still pretty lame.

Find it: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

Ravagers #2-  The Ravagers is the spin off from The Culling event that brought together Superboy, Teen Titans and Legion Lost.  Ravagers follows 2 groups of survivors who are running from N.O.W.H.E.R.E.  The main group consists of Fairchild, Thunder, Lightning and Ridge.  The secondary group is Terra and Beast Boy (he's now ORANGE- in case you missed the memo).  This book has some great art- even with the characters still in their Tron suits froom the culling.  The story line is interesting.  You aren't sure what to think or who to side with because Harvest is definitely evil but it seems like it was part of the plan to send the strongest of the meta-kids out into the world to tear it apart.  Which very well may happen since they don't remember how to function outside of Harvest's twisted world.  I'm excited to see Beast Boy getting his own storyline and to see him with Terra.  Terra may even get to be a great fleshed out character in the reboot.  A classic Titans bad guy is coming soon to the Ravagers... Jason Blood is going to make his New 52 debut and he looks scary as heck.  All in all I'm glad that I put the Ravagers on my pull.  4 Flashes to this book!

Find it: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

Green Arrow #10-  This book was nice.  It's nice to Ollie as himself.  As compassionate and caring.  The art was good in this issue and I'm glad for that.  The idea of robot people or people robots is pretty creepy so I guess we'll have to see where it goes.  I also feel like I missed something about the fall out that Ollie must have gone through after getting stranded out in the arctic.  I love that Green Arrow is getting to become a strong character in his own right with this title- there's no Dinah and no sidekicks.  I just wish we'd get to see him interact with the other heroes.  We already saw him get turned down by the Justice League and offered a chance for another team or something but when will we get to see WHAT?!  I could really use more Green Arrow.  I give this one 3 Flashes for being a great book but not enough Green Arrow for me.


Find It: In Print on MyComicShop or Digital on Comixology.

Next week will be a great week for comics too!  We'll be getting Birds of Prey, Astonishing X-Men, Blue Beetle, Justice League, Nightwing, Red Hood & the Outlaws and Young Justice.  It should be exciting!  Hope to see you back next week.

Flash Friday!

This week I have a pretty diverse group of comics for review!  We have Blue Beetle, Justice League, Superboy and Arkham Unhinged.  The Night of the Owls is still going strong in the Batman world but we take a break this week to review the other great books out now.

Superboy #9-  The Culling continues this week with Superboy, The Teen Titans and The Legion fighting to save metahuman teens in the Crucible.  Harvest's Ravagers have arrived now that the Titans and Legion have taken everyone else out to keep them from harming each other.  Superboy must face Warblade, leader of the Ravagers, but he doesn't have to do it alone.  Will the heroes ever escape from Harvest and can they save any of the teens that Harvest has gathered for the Culling?  The story will continue in Teen Titans # 9 and then Ravagers #1.  The art is this issue was nice.  It's great to see a bunch of characters and have each one be really different looking from the others.  The Tron suits are getting old but other than that, it's a pretty issue.  We also get some great Tim Drake moments and Bart has a couple of moments with one of the Legionaires.  Overall, Superboy #9 earns 4 Flashes for a pretty book that moves us closer to the end of The Culling.

Blue Beetle #9-  Jaime is still in New York but now he's faced with Green Lantern and the Guardians.  Not good news for Jaime.  But there are bigger things afoot and Jaime proves to Kyle Raynor that he's not a bad guy.  But Kyle is called away to Odym, the home planet of the Blue Lanterns.  So, once again, Jaime is left on his own in a strange place.  The art is lovely in this book but I really wonder if the angsty direction that DC is taking this one might be a mistake.  The sales numbers released recently weren't great and most Jaime fans disagree with making such a well adjusted and lovable character who relied on his friends and family into a teen runaway.  I'm enjoying the story so far but I do hope that something happens soon to help Jaime through this transition from normal teen to teenaged hero.  I hate angst and the angst mixed with a slow moving plot is kinda killing me.  We'll see what happens to Jaime Reyes this summer.  Blue Beetle #9 earns 3 Flashes for a book with great art and interesting story.

Justice League #9-  This issue of the Justice League also continues with the extra story of Billy Batson and Shazaam!  Someone is out to take down the Justice League an they're tearing the country apart to do it.  We also are reminded why Flash can't be Bad Cop while interrogating a suspect.  Members of the Justice League are responding to disturbances across the country and finding that someone is collecting information about them.  While they are too busy to notice, their liaison is taken and when his family is threatened, how can he stand against his torturer?  In Shazaam, Billy Batson turns out to be more than a kid whose seen it all and decided that the world is a hard place.  When push comes to shove, he stands up for what he beleives in and there's nothing he hates more than a bully.  Also, someone is unearthing the Tomb of Black Adam.... not good.  Justice League #9 earns 4 Flashes for interesting tidbits of backstory, great art and proof that while the world puts their safety in the hands of the Justice League, it's members are still human (mostly) and not infallible.

Arkham Unhinged #2-  Arkham Unhinged is giving us the lead up to the story that plays out in the game Arkham City.  (Which is an amazing game, really.)  We see what Batman, Oracle, Robin and Nightwing have been up to before Bruce Wayne lands himself in Arkham City at the start of the game.  Batman and the others are trying to figure out what Sharp is up to in setting up this penal colony and how Hugo Strange is behind it all.  This book has really nice art and the characters are all kept true to their game designs.  Overall this is a great book.  Can't wait for the next one!  Arkham Unhinged #2 earns 5 Flashes for an all around great book.

Next week we'll have: Aquaman, Batman Incorporated, The Flash, The Savage Hawkman, Teen Titans, and hopefully, the copies of Catwoman and Batman that we're waiting on! Hope to see you back then.