Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Action Comics Vol.1 HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money

ACTION COMICS VOLUME 1 HARDCOVER
Grant Morrison and Rags Morales (Identity Crisis) bring Superman and Daily Star Reporter Clark Kent to the 21st century by making him more relevant to today’s generation. Superman is about representing the 99% of America taking down both street and white collar criminals including Glen Glenmorgan who currently owns the Daily Planet.  Clark Kent is also getting secret info from another source to take down Glenmorgan.

Lex Luthor sees Superman as an alien parasite on Earth. General Sam Lane wants Superman captured and Luthor stop Superman with a bullet train. A captured Superman escapes however discovers the military has his ship which brought him to Earth as Krypton was destroyed. Luthor has been secretly working with an unknown entity that knows all about Superman who resides in space.

In the past Jor-EL and his wife Lara escape Kandor before it is consumed by the alien consciousness. In the present Sergeant John Wayne Corben prepares the experimental warsuit Metal-Zero codenamed Steel Soldier to take on the Man of Steel and becomes Metallo. However he is taken over by the same consciousness that attacked Kandor. Now Clark encounters manufacturing robots under control of Brainiac across the country.

Superman deals with Corben in the Steel Soldier suit however fails until its creator John Henry Irons arrives to take it apart. However the battle is short-lived as Brainiac bottles Metropolis for his personal collection.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Superman lifts off into space to stop Brainiac and enters his ship
- Brainiac asks Superman to between Kandor and Metropolis
- Superman wears the Kryptonian white suit and takes on both Metallo and Brainiac

INTERLUDE HIGHLIGHTS
- The origin of Superman is retold but the rocket is captured by the US military
- The Krypton engine within the rocket is taken by the Anti-Superman Army
- Superman the Legion of Super-Heroes arrive on the scene of the stolen engine
- Jonathan and Martha Kent decide to adopt a child just before the arrival of Superman
- The Anti-Superman Army steals the K-Engine from Superman’s escape pod
- Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes find the missing K-Engine
- The Anti-Superman Army is hiding within Superman’s head
- Different variations of Kryptonite are derived from the same source
- Superman restores his escape pod’s power source

This hardcover collects
Action Comics #1-8

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5


    

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

New Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis Vol.3 Premiere HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money



NEW AVENGERS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS VOLUME 3 PREMIERE HARDCOVER
Following Secret Invasion Norman Osborn became Top Cop of the Marvel Universe ushering in Dark Reign. His reign unraveled when he decided to declare war on Asgard and used the Sentry to achieve his objectives. Now Norman Osborn has been imprisoned within the Raft but is now awaiting transferred so he will stand trial in the international criminal court. The New Avengers were tasked to safely execute the transfer by Commander Steve Rogers. However Norman Osborn escapes with his loyal H.A.M.M.E.R. Agents and releases Dr. Wentworth.


The New Avengers deal with the menace of Ultimo which was sent by Norman Osborn to steal one of Tony Stark’s armor at a Stark Resilent satellite laboratory. After failing to steal one of his armors, Osborn was able to get a genetic extraction from Wolverine and self-destruction the Ultimo robot. 

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Osborn recruits Skaar who is the son of Hulk from the Savage Land
- Barney Barton who is Hawkeye’s brother joins Osborn’s Avengers
- Doctor June Covington joins Osborn’s Avengers as the Scarlet Witch
- Osborn gives Ai Apaec a pill to become a six-armed Spider-Man
- Madame Hydra AKA Viper is sick of losing and joins with Osborn
- The Gorgon brings the former members of the Hand to H.A.M.M.E.R.
- A.I.M stole and repairing Thor’s clone body Ragnarok to join Osborn
- Victoria Hand sends the wrong coordinates while sending the right ones to Osborn
- Osborn deals with the monster menace in Miami as the New Avengers arrive

- The New Avengers gets blamed for the fight against the Dark Avengers
- Norman Osborn sends the clone Thor to deal with the New Avengers

This hardcover collects
New Avengers #16.1
New Avengers #17 - 23

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5



    

Green Lantern: New Guardians Vol.1 HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Read Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money



GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS VOLUME 1 HARDCOVER 
The various Lantern Corps members from various space sectors are decommissioned and looking for a replacement. The various rings are attracted to Green Lantern Kyle Rayner which attracts angry members of various Lantern Corps who believe Kyle stole the Lantern rings. However Saint Walker finally arrives and gives Kyle the benefit of the doubt.

Both Saint Walker and Kyle head to Sector Zero the home of Planet Oa to find Ganthet. However Ganthet has been lobotomized by the other Guardians of the Universe and his emotions have been removed. As the Guardians prepare to attack Kyle, the various rings are placed on Kyle’s other fingers so he now wields the entire emotional spectrum.

The rings overpower Kyle and remove themselves from his fingers. The orange ring is actually an Orange Lantern construct Glomulus. The other ring bearers finally arrive to confront the Guardians of the Universe however they are soon defeated except for Glomulus who awaits his master Agent Orange and his Guardian Sayd. 

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Larfleeze and Sayd attack and escape with the New Guardians back to Okaara
- Sinestro Corp member Arkillo gets his tongue back from Saint Walker
- Sayd reveals the space vessel Darery which is the size of a solar system

This hardcover collects
Green Lantern: New Guardians #1-7

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5


  

The Flash Vol.1 HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money



THE FLASH VOLUME 1 HARDCOVER
Barry Allen discovers his friend Manuel Lago is killed after clashing with the Flash dressed one of a group of terrorists. Thes terrorists wanted a portable genome re-coder. However shortly afterwards Manuel arrives however he is captured by cloned copies of himself. Manuel was part of a military experiment which allowed a soldier to regenerate any injury.

The Flash goes to Dr. Darwin Elias of Mercury Labs who tells Barry he is not thinking fast enough. Meanwhile Iris has plans to interview Captain Cold at Iron Heights Prison. After killing the original scientist who created the program, the Manuel copies called Mob Rule kidnap Dr. Elias because the copies are dying after a few months. Barry rescues his friend the original Manuel however is shot by Mob Rule.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Manuel’s copies are discarded body parts of him regenerated back
- Dr. Elias agreed to help Mob Rule rewrite their DNA
- The Flash saves Iris West from the criminals within Iron Heights Prison
- The Speed Force is creating time rifts

This hardcover collects
The Flash #1-7

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5


    

  

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Fantastic Four: Forever Premiere HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money

    

  


Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis Vol.3 Premiere HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money


AVENGERS VOLUME 3 PREMIERE HARDCOVER
Following the events of Fear Itself, Steve Rogers assembles a new team of Avengers at the Avengers Mansion. Meanwhile an S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Dr. Carolina Washington collects DNA samples from various victims of Civil War, Death of Captain America, Secret Invasion, and Fear Itself. Dr. Washington goes to A.I.M. which refers her to H.A.M.M.E.R. where Norman Osborn welcomes her after she offers the genetic secrets of the entire superhuman population.

Former Secret Warriors member Daisy Johnson who is now S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent questions former Captain America John Walker on the breakout of Norman Osborn from the Raft. Johnson later confronts Captain America to inform him that H.A.M.M.E.R. is everywhere.

Captain America asks the Black Panther to rejoin the team however he refers his wife Storm. Tony Stark reassembles the Vision and Rogers brings Johnson AKA Quake on the team. As the new Avengers team is assembled and presented to the public, a holographic transmission appears of Norman Osborn accusing them of a litany of crimes.

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Hawkeye and Spider-Woman deal with Hulks at Thunderbolts Mountain
- Red Hulk and Storm are taken down by mechanical wasps at Osborn Industries
- Iron Man’s armor is compromised and attacks his team member the Protector
- Each member of the Avengers are defeated by the Norman Osborn and H.A.M.M.E.R.

This hardcover collects
Avengers #18 – 24

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

  

    

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Avengers: The Children's Crusade Premiere HC

New Comic Releases and Reviews – Spoiler Alerts Ahead
5 – Worth the Buy It Now Price
4 – Story is Worth the Purchase Price or Definite Trade Paperback Read
3 – Average Story – Buy if you Need to Complete your Collection
2 – Filler Issue – Not Necessary to Purchase
1 – Avoid and Save your Money

AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN’S CRUSADE PREMIERE HARDCOVER
When Wiccan loses control of his powers the Avengers fear another Scarlet Witch. The Young Avengers decide to search for his mother which could be the key to Wiccan’s future and freedom. With the help of Magneto who was recently made aware of his two grandsons Wiccan and Speed, the Young Avengers transport themselves to Wundagore, Transia the place where the Scarlet Witch was raised. Shortly afterwards Quicksilver arrives and together they search for the missing Scarlet Witch.The two year series beginning in 2010 seems to be the prequel to the upcoming Avengers Vs. X-Men event in 2012. The Avengers, X-Men, Young Avengers, and the Avengers Next are all in this series giving it a large cast and a great story.  

SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Wiccan and Speed meet Magneto who also wants to search for his daughter Wanda
- The Young Avengers and Magneto battle the Avengers before teleporting away
- Quicksilver attempts to murder his father Magneto however hits a Wanda Doombot
- Wiccan disguises himself as the Scarlet Witch to infiltrate Dr. Doom’s castle

- The Avengers follow Wonder Man’s energy signature to locate the missing Wanda 
- Wanda with no recollection of her past is engaged to the King of Latveria Dr. Doom 
- Both Wiccan and Wanda struggle against Wolverine before being saved by Iron Lad

- The Young Avengers escape into the timestream with the Scarlet Witch into the past
- The Young Avengers meet Scott Lang before the events of Avengers: Disassembled
- Scarlet Witch returns with both the Young Avengers and Scott Lang to the present
- Beast suggests undoing what Wanda has done and contacts X-Factor for a volunteer
- Wanda restores Rictor’s powers as the X-Men arrive 

- Cyclops and the X-Men want the Scarlet Witch brought to justice
- Captain America explains Scarlet Witch is still an Avenger and will protect her
- The X-Men and Avengers have a short battle before Scarlet Witch puts them to sleep
- Scarlet Witch teleports the Young Avengers back to Castle Doom 

- Doom was responsible for amping up Scarlet Witch’s powers to bring her children back to life
- Scarlet Witch, Wiccan, and Doctor Doom attempt to reverse M-Day
- Patriot interrupts the spell removing the altering powers of the Scarlet Witch
- The powers have now transferred into Doctor Doom who has a restored face

YOUNG AVENGERS ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
- The Young Avengers become the Avengers in the future along with Kang
- Iron Lad trains the Young Avengers and faces against their first villain Electro
- Electro got away and broke out super-villains at the Raft seen in New Avengers #1
- Kang convinces Iron Lad to travel back in time to save the Scarlet Witch 
- Kang and the Avengers managed to trick Iron Lad to become Kang and destroy the Avengers


- The X-Men and the Avengers discover Doom not Wanda has her mind-altering powers
- The Avengers, X-Men, and X-Factor battle Victor Von Doom
- Wiccan and the Scarlet Witch manage to defeat Doom as Cassie Lang is killed by Doom

- Iron Lad destroys Vision before retreating into the past to save Cassie
- The Young Avengers disband as the events of Spider-Island and X-Men Schism take hold
-  The Avengers announce not matter what the Young Avengers will always be Avengers

This hardcover collects
Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #1-9

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5