Comic Books/Graphic Novels – Primary Ignition

A Justice League Infinity #2 Micro-Review – Getting Superman Right

Posted on 08/03/202108/03/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Justice League Infinity #2
AUTHOR: J.M. DeMatteis, James Tucker
ARTISTS: Ethen Beavers, Nick Filardi (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Matheus Lopez.
RELEASED: August 3, 2021

The most refreshing thing in the world of comics, to yours truly at least, is when a writer or writers really nail Superman. It’s surprising how few authors in the world can get Superman right.

Thankfully, J.M. DeMatteis and James Tucker are able to do that in Justice League Infinity #2. As the League deals with Overman, an evil version of the Man of Steel, we see the genuine article acting as an agent of peace, understanding, and finding common ground.

I’ve said it a million times: Superman is an idealist. The more writers that understand that, the better.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Nightwing #82 Micro-Review – Sister Act

Posted on 08/02/202108/02/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Nightwing #82
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Bruno Redondo, Rick Leonardi, Neil Edwards, Andy Lanning (Inker), Scott Hanna (Inker), Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Wes Abbott (Letterer). Variant cover by Jamal Campbell.
RELEASED: July 20, 2021

As we found out last issue, Dick Grayson has an apparent sister. Naturally, this issue follows up on that big reveal. Specifically, via flashback sequences, which they do a nice job of changing up the texture for.

This whole “hero has a surprise sibling” story has obviously been done before. But doing it with Dick might have something of a unique flavor. So I’m here for it. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even stick…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A Detective Comics #1040 Micro-Review – A Classic Costume Returns!

Posted on 08/02/202108/02/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Detective Comics #1040
AUTHORS: Mariko Tamaki, Dan Watters
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Max Raynor, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Arif Prianto (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
RELEASED: July 27, 2021

Dan Mora makes a very welcome return to Detective here. I’m always happy to see his work.

There’s a flashback sequence in this issue where we see Batman back in the classic blue and gray costume, complete with the yellow oval behind the bat symbol. That’s a cool little treat.

Do these Lee Bermejo variant covers get the love they deserve? I hope so…

Dan Watters and Max Raynor give us a somewhat touching back-up story about Man-Bat and the fate he’s met. Definitely worth sticking around after the main feature.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A Star Wars #15 Micro-Review – A Loosely Tied Thread

Posted on 07/29/202107/29/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Star Wars #15
AUTHOR: Charles Soule
ARTISTS: Ramon Rosanas, Rachelle Rosenberg (Colorist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer). Cover by Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, & Rain Beredo.
RELEASED: July 28, 2021

A nice little issue about Luke, Wedge, and Starlight Squadron. There’s a thread that ties it to War of the Bounty Hunters. But ultimately, if you’re missing this issue you aren’t missing much.

Aside from this main Star Wars series, which is on my regular pull list, as far as keeping up with WotBH, I’m sticking to the main miniseries. I haven’t seen anything that prompts me to look into the other tie-ins.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A TMNT Annual 2021 Review – The Game Begins

Posted on 07/29/202107/29/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2021
AUTHOR: Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: Casey Maloney, Maria Keane (Inker), Luis Delgado (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer)
RELEASED: July 28, 2021

Grab a sandwich with this one, boys and girls. As is often the case when TMNT divulges into heavy dialogue scenes, this sucker is dense. Dense and, unfortunately, uncharacteristically boring. It’s the Rat King making the rounds and talking to the fellow immortal siblings. That’s just about all there is to it.

I’m sure the “Armageddon Game” story this is setting us up for will be good. But this wasn’t exactly a thrilling way to lead into it.

On the plus side? A lot of really creative visuals.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A Teen Titans Academy #5 Micro-Review – Too Much Nightwing?

Posted on 07/29/202107/29/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Teen Titans Academy #5
AUTHOR: Tim Sheridan
ARTISTS: Steve Lieber, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Rafa Sandoval & Alejandro Sanchez.
RELEASED: July 27, 2021

This is the first issue of Teen Titans Academy I didn’t like. It sees the Bat Pack characters take center stage for the second consecutive issue. Granted, they’ve been part of the book since issue #1. But So have characters like Summer, Alinta, Brick, Gorilla Gregg, etc. I’d rather have spent time with them than a trio of Batman groupies.

Also, I’m starting to think this book is a little too Nightwing-heavy for me. And I say that as a Nightwing buff.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A Robin #4 Micro-Review – Some Time With Grandpa

Posted on 07/29/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Robin #4
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Jorge Corona, Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Gleb Melnikov.
RELEASED: July 27, 2021

Jorge Corona tags in for what winds up being a pretty good looking issue. Still, it takes a hit from a consistency standpoint without Gleb Melnikov.

I can’t say this story was dying for a Ra’s al Ghul appearance. But it gives the story a little extra dimension it wouldn’t have otherwise had. So no harm done. In any event, Damian’s relationship to Ra’s doesn’t get looked at quite as much as his relationship to Talia. So a little time between grandfather and grandson doesn’t necessarily hurt.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 Micro-Review – Are We in the Future Yet?

Posted on 07/27/202107/27/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #1
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: John Timms, Gabe Eltaeb (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)
RELEASED: July 27, 2021

This feels like it should have been part of Future State. It feels like they’re setting up Jon Kent to be the one and only Superman, as opposed to one of two Supermen alongside his father…

That being said, Taylor proves he knows how to write Superman, be it Jon or Clark Kent. The hero we see here is compassionate, as opposed to combatant. That’s a side of Superman a lot of creators to get wrong.

We also get to see what the Justice League was doing on the day Jon was born. That manages to be pretty cool.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews

A Detective Comics #1039 Micro-Review – Meet Hue Vile

Posted on 07/23/202107/24/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Detective Comics #1039
AUTHORS: Mariko Tamaki, T.Rex
ARTISTS: Viktor Bogdanovic, T.Rex, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Simon Gough (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
CO-INKERS: Daniel Henriques, Norm Rapmund
RELEASED: July 13, 2021

This issue’s back-up feature, written and drawn by T.Rex, is its highlight. It gives us a look at the origin of one of our villains, Hue Vile. I can’t say it’s the most original or captivating origin story I’ve ever heard. But the art really sells it.

As for the main story, it’s chugging along at what I might call a slightly slow pace. Slow, but still captivating in its own right.

The one thing I’d change about Viktor Bogdanovic’s art? Huntress’ mask looks string thin. Gotta fatten that sucker up.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels, Micro-Reviews, Power Rangers

A Mighty Morphin #9 Micro-Review – Lord Zedd and a Larger Universe

Posted on 07/21/202107/21/2021 by Rob Siebert

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Mighty Morphin #9
AUTHOR: Ryan Parrott
ARTISTS: Marco Renna, Walter Baiamonte (Colorist), Katia Ranalli & Sara Antonelini (Color Assistants), Ed Dukeshure (Letterer). Cover by InHyuk Lee.
RELEASED: July 14, 2021

Epic Lord Zedd cover by InHyuk Lee. And this issue has a nice little scene with Zedd as an interrogator to go a long with it.

Parrott continues to be very good at fleshing out elements of Power Rangers mythology. Who and what the Eltarians really are, why the moon base says “Bandora’s Palace” outside, some of the backstory behind the Zeo Crystal, etc. It’s much appreciated, as it gives these MMPR books a much larger feel.

There’s a really intriguing subplot here involving tension between Zordon and Billy. Very curious to see how it’s resolved.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.