Brad Bell Comic Reviews

Whether you are reading the book for classic Predator action or the ever engaging Archie love triangle, this comiccaters to all of its expected audiences and then some. Expect comic readers and general audiences to gravitate more toward this book as positive word of mouth spreads. After all what better way to spend the warm spring and summer days than seeing Predator decapitate the Archie gang.

Batman endgame was big, bold, action packed, and a must read in the Batman mythos. However I hesitate to put it into the upper echelon of Batman stories in the vain of books such as: Long Halloween, Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, and Hush. While this story has been critically acclaimed in my opinion it is a bit bloated to be considered a Batman masterpiece.

As good as so many aspects of this fresh start for Bloodshot are, the very end the book takes a tasteless turn. As the first dilemma our new anti-hero must deal with is an allegory for the Auroa Colorado movie theater shooting. While it is always interesting to see our heroes combat real world problems, in this case Jeff Lemire may have layed it on a bit thick. Thus wasting the chance to provide a perfect return for a not so perfect character.

The beginning of the end is here in Convergence #1, and if the book proves anything it is that the doubters were wrong. Rather than being a book of big messy moments it feels like that Convergence will be about small character driven moments that regardless of what multi-verse they take place in will remind us all of why we love theseHeroes so much.

Convergence #2 may be a bit handicapped by Artist's Carlos Pagulayan and Jason Paz choice to illustrate their action scenes with heavy doses of DC house art. Thisultimately makes for some wonky action between Telos and the Justice League. However Jeff King's ability to subtly, but superbly give DC readers the emotional encounter between Bruce and Thomas Wayne that they have been wanting to see since the end of Flash Point is what defines this book.

As strongly as King handles the villains of Convergence in issue #3, his story unravels a bit when it shifts focus to the team dynamic of the Earth 2Justice League. The obstacles that he throws at the teamdo notfeel organic at all outside of Batman and Dick Grayson. As all of sudden heroes encounter new allies, and quickly find themselves in new locations just because the story calls for it. As the Justice League'sstory begins to unfold story elements begin to feel less natural making the reader ponder for the first time if television writer Jeff King should have been handed this major DC event as his first project.

As the story progresses the character of Telos becomes ever more intriguing, as he has been fleshed out by Jeff King to be somewhere in between Marvel counterparts: Silver Surfer and Galactus. The character would be best described as a necessary, but compassionate force. Besides powerful DC character moments Telos has been the best part of Convergence. However a reveal at the end of this issue that is reached by what can only be described as messy storytelling leads readers to wonder just how much of Telo's current actions are tied to Brainiac's will? Or has Telos been playing God all along. This twist leaves hope that the action and consequences of Convergence have a chance of matching the magical character moments moving forward.

Even at it's weakest moment Convergence#5 brings some redeemable content. The Sandra Hope and Andy Kubert art is stunning and provides some much needed clarity compared to previous wonky action sequences of the story. As has been the usual, Convergence once again provides another moving character moment this time as Dick Grayson realizes he is not only linked to Bruce Wayne in every multiverse, but the hope that the symbol of Batman provides no matter the reality.

For those of you that dropped off of "Convergence" maybe in part due to my opinions, i am truly sorry! It appears that the true hero that will rise out of this story is writer Scott Lobdell, as his arrival on the book combined with the sharp house art of Ed Benes and Eduarado Pansica have finally made this book noteworthy.

In reality the answer would probably be because that version of Green Lantern was just summoned to the Telos Vs. Deimos showdown, but in our reality it was so DC could make a few more bucks off it's readers. The saving grace of this issue comes as the death of Telos cracks reality throughout the multiverse, which will apparently have some sort of impact on the state of the DCU when "Convergence" ends and "Darkseid War" begins. The reason because at some point, and no one knows where, Deimos adsorbed the powers of time travelers, and his death as alluded to in this issue will not only impact the future, but DC history as whole. Now if only I could take advantage of this crack in reality to travel to the end of March 2015, and tell myself to read "Secret Wars" over "Convergence".

Instead DC readers get a New Earth 2 made out of the remains of Telos which despite Alan Scott's power is relativelyunexplained, an expanded DC Multiverse, and a giant tease for the next big DC event that will actually matter: "Darkseid War". If you are a fan of the DC Multiverse, primarily Earth 2 and it's heroes, I have to imagine you will be pretty satisfied with the results of "Convergence". If you were looking for a meaningful story involving the primary heroes of the DC Universe, expect to be unfulfilled.

In Speed Force #1 Tony Bedard manages to craft so much more than simply a fun big event spin-off . He touches at the emotional core of a generally entertaining, but shallow character. Regardless of what happens to this version of Wally West post Convergence the character has been given a much needed boost inhumility.

Brad Walker's one major success in this #1 comes when he begins to explore the lack of quality control of replacement limbs that S.T.A.R Labs has been providing to the general population. Raising the question of why can't Cyborg's tech be used as a catalyst to improving technology for the good of all humankind? If Walker explores this thread in subsequent issues then perhaps it is a bit early to press pause on this series, but judging on how Walker wrote Cyborg's creator and father: Silas Stone in this issue it seems to be treading the familiar territory of a failed father-son relationship. When perhaps the more interesting and original approach would be to focus on the negative impact that failing relationship is also having on others.

Despite taking the world of Morrison's "New X-men" in a completely new direction, there is still a lot of homage to that historic run. This is done most recognizably by the cast of characters Burham bringsback, some of the best holdovers from the Morrison days remain intact from Angel Salvadore, to Beak, to one metal head that will be sure to make fans of the original "New X-men" collective jaws hit the floor on the final panel. In addition to the character's, the art of Ramon Villalobos makes the original world these characters thrived in during their Frank Quietly days feel like a warpedreality for even the most reverent believers of homo superiority.

While nothing speed force shattering has been developed inthe first two issues of Joshua Williamson and Carmine Di Giandomencio's take on the Flash, you really cannot be upset with the story being told thus far. Williamson has restored the Flash and his supporting cast back to classic form, and Carmine's unique art is bringing the book to life in a truly unique way that fit's the Flash and Central City very well. That being said I am used to my Flash getting off to a bit of a faster start, but in the end if we continue down this slow burn route, fan's of the man in red could be in for one of the more original takes on the character in the modern era.

The Flash Rebirth #1 is a good Flash story but offers nothing that compelling nor groundbreaking. While some interesting questions are raised, the biggest moments of this story have already been told in Rebirth #1. Leaving a reader to wonder was there any real reason to purchase this book? In all honesty you would probably be fine waiting for Flash #1 in a few weeks. Overall I still leave this book with a lot of positive vibes. Williamson seems to have a great grasp on the Flash characters and their motivations, and Carmine DI Giandomenico's art is on point and maintains the flow of the book throughout while never becoming distracting.

Nighthawk issue one provided an organic introduction to a lesser known character in the Marvel mythos, issue two begins to truly establish the world of Raymond Kane and his two front war against villainy and prejudice. Like most I picked up the first issue knowing nothing about Nighthawk or his motivations and left satisfied. However I picked up the second issue thinking there is no way this non-established Marvel book can be that good right? Wrong, as proven by issue two Nighthawk is the gruesome and strangely heartfelt breathe of fresh air that Marvel catalog didn't know it needed.

Overall Higgins provides us with answers and actions we never thought possible in this property, which was once easily dismissed as a children's series. New Readers and fans of the original series will leave this book realizing that 2016 is the year of the Power Rangers in comics, the way 1993 was for television.

"Robin: Son of Batman #1" should delight previous fans of Damian Wayne, and even open the eyes of the character's critics. As both the story and art of Patrick Gleason set the character on a trajectory of Redemption that I believe will cement him as one of the best Robin's in the Batman mythos, and perhaps elevate to character to point of successful self reliance.

The big question now is what happens to Spider Gwen after Secret Wars? Marvel now faces the challenge of one of their most popular characters existing in an alternate Universe, something that the Secret Wars event has promised to squash. While Speaking to Jason Latour at a signing at Heroes Aren't Hard to find in Charlotte, NC this past weekend the writer claimed that the current plan isn't to bring Spider-Gwen in the post Secret Wars Marvel Universe. He then went on to say but you never know. So there is a chance that after nearly 40 years a main Marvel Universe with Peter and Gwen could happen.

Within this number one Tomasi and Gleason show readers that they truly understand Superman and his place in the world. Filling all nineteen pages with a sense of hope and righteousness we have not seen in a Superman book or any DC title for a very longtime. That being said, Tomasi has not set this up as the global scale Superman book that we are accustomed to seeing. You probably need to turn to Dan Jurgen's Action Comics if that is what you are looking for. Rather we are introduced to a brighter version of what Bruce and Damian Wayne are to DC. Knowing the way that Tomasi and Gleason not only understand Superman, but how to expertly craft a father son story, readers can expect Superman to remain atop their pull list for the foreseeable future.

Swords of Sorrow: Vampirella & Jennifer Blood #3 succeeds as the best in the series because both characters are at their best. Blood and Vampirella make a great team who aren't afraid of anyone or anything. It makes for an exciting, white-knuckle read that punches you in the gut and keeps you asking for more.

As interesting as this books primary plot thread and characters are, the book really thrives in the witty banter that Aaron writes for the Thors as the go back and forth with one another. Whether it is at a crime scene or at a bar off duty arguing about how many Hulks and Ghost Riders they have nabbed, the human element of partnership and friendship among people with the power of Gods is really what drive this book. At the same time it is during those down moments that the book can meander a bit, but with an event as drawn out and encompassing as "Secret Wars" that has to be somewhat expected.