A Sword of Azrael #3 Micro-Review – A Hero’s Mental Anguish

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

Sword of Azrael 3, cover, 2022, Nikola Cizmesija, Romulo Fajardo Jr.TITLE: Sword of Azrael #3
AUTHOR: Dan Watters
ARTISTS:
Nikola Cizmesija, Marissa Louise (Colorist), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letterer). Cover by Cizmesija & Romulo Fajardo Jr.

RELEASED: October 4, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a great page in this issue that depicts Jean-Paul Valley’s inner struggle with Azrael. The line work is great. But what really makes it pop are Marissa Louise’s colors. She gives  us a blaze of clashing hues that wonderfully depict our hero’s mental anguish.

Speaking of anguish, we see some dead bodies in this issue that have been hacked up by Azrael’s flaming sword. Call me a sick man, but I kind of like that. It shows us there are consequences when he lights up that sword and starts going to town.

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

Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Wonder Woman #1 Micro-Review – Martian Squidhunter?!?

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

TITLE: Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League – Wonder Woman #1
AUTHORS: Tini Howard, Dan Watters
ARTISTS:
Leila Del Duca, Brandon Peterson, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Michael Atiyeh (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Del Duca & Bellaire.

RELEASED: September 13, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue’s Wonder Woman feature is all well and good. But what I came away thinking about was the straight up bizarre Martian Manhunter back-up.

Two words: Martian Squidhunter.

Dan Watters, Brandon Peterson, and Michael Atiyeh craft a noir tale in black, white, and red. J’onn, and every other human on Earth, now has a squid face. They look not unlike the ood species from Doctor Who. It’s downright haunting. But at the same time, I love the creativity. So it gets a big thumbs up from me.

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

A Sword of Azrael #2 Micro-Review – Azrael vs. Vengeance, Round One

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

Sword of Azrael 2, cover, 2022, Nikola Cizmesija, Romulo Fajardo JrTITLE: Sword of Azrael #2 (of 6)
AUTHOR: Dan Watters
ARTISTS:
Nikola Cizmesija, Marissa Louise (Colorist), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Cover by Cizmesija & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
RELEASED:
September 6, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The theme in this book of religion and spirituality being used as a tool of manipulation is poignant. I can appreciate a book where a religious hero is willing to acknowledge its uses for more sinister purposes.

Azrael and Vengeance, Bane’s daughter, mix it up in the early part of this issue. The fight is short, but pretty sweet. I’ve got high hopes we’ll see them go at it again in the near future.

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

A Sword of Azrael #1 Micro-Review – The Relatable Monk

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

Sword of Azrael 1, cover, 2022, Nikola CizmesijaTITLE: Sword of Azrael #1 (of 6)
AUTHOR: Dan Watters
ARTISTS:
Nikola Cizmesija, Marissa Louise (Colorist), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Cover by Cizmesija & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
RELEASED:
August 2, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I’d argue Jean-Paul Valley isn’t always the easiest character to sympathize with or relate to. Case in point, when we meet him in this issue he’s living as a monk at a monastery. Not necessarily a lifestyle your average reader can connect with…

But under Dan Watters, Valley is a man trying to live with what he sees as a monster inside him, while also trying to do good in the world. At the very least, that’s admirable. And who among us hasn’t lived with a part of ourselves we don’t like?

We’re off to a good start here.

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

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

***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

Detective Comics 1040, cover, 2021, Lee Bermejo variant coverTITLE: 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.

Weekly Comic 100s: Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #2

***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: Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #2
AUTHOR: Dan Watters
ARTISTS: Leila Del Luca, Nick Filardi (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Lee Weeks and Brad Anderson.
RELEASED: February 9, 2021

Dan Watters succeeds here in that I believe Jon Kent and Yara Flor are good friends. I was left wanting to see more of the two of them, to the point that it felt like the villains were in the way. I’m not sure that’s what he was going for…

At one point, the issue tells us “Superman has not the raw cunning of Wonder Woman.” That’s BS. We already like Yara. Stop trying to put her over at Superman’s expense.

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

Weekly Comic 100s: Go Go Power Rangers Finale, Batman, and More!

***”Weekly Comic 100s” keeps it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

A slightly abbreviated version this week. I wouldn’t expect that to become a trend. As we continue to get back in the swing of things, they’ll get consistently bigger.

TITLE: Go Go Power Rangers #32
AUTHORS: Ryan Parrott, Sina Grace
ARTISTS: Francesco Mortarino, Simona Di Gianfelice (Inking Assist), Raul Angulo (Colorist), Ed Dukeshire (Letterer). Cover by Eleonora Carlini and Angulo.
RELEASED: June 10, 2020

Fracesco Mortarino draws Rocky with a mullet in this issue. That was most certainly not how he looked on the show…

While I’m very sad to see Go Go Power Rangers…uh…go, the series does end on a satisfactory note. We close with Jason, Zack, and Trini giving up their powers to take on a secret mission in space as the Omega Rangers. But it’s less about the original team splitting up, and more about the growth into two teams. It’s like we’ve gained four new Rangers instead of losing three.

TITLE: Batman Secret Files #3
AUTHORS: Vita Ayala, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mariko Tamaki, Dan Watters, James Tynion IV.
ARTISTS: Andie Tong, Victor Ibanez, Riley Rossmo, John Paul Leon, Sumit Kumar. Cover by Guillem March and Tomeu Morey.
COLORISTS: Alejandro Sanchez, Jordie Bellaire, Ivan Plascencia, Leon, FCO Plascencia
LETTERERS: Rob Leigh, Troy Peteri, Tom Napolitano, Deron Bennett Carlos M. Mangual
RELEASED: June 9, 2020

This issue spotlights the various assassins sent to kill Batman in the latest story in the titular series. Obviously this includes Deathstroke. Batman scribe James Tynion IV gives us a story about the Joker pitching Slade a plan that will presumably come to pass in the upcoming Joker War story.

From an overall quality standpoint, the story about Mr. Teeth is probably leading the pack, followed by a story featuring Merlyn and Green Arrow. All in all, some great character spotlights make this an issue that’s definitely worth picking up.

TITLE: Something is Killing the Children #7
AUTHOR: James Tynion IV
ARTISTS: Werther Dell’Edera, Miquel Muerto (Colorist), Andworld Design (Letters)
RELEASED:
June 10, 2020

Tynion is slowly peeling back the layers in terms of what the monsters are, and who this group fighting against them is.

For instance, in this book we learn Erica Slaughter belongs to the “Slaughter House,” and that there’s some kind of hierarchy to it. But of course, we don’t find out what that is or how it works. The approach is effective.

We also get an important bit of info as to why Erica kept young James at her side in the first story. It doesn’t paint her in the best light. But it does make sense.

TITLE: Lois Lane #11
AUTHOR:
Greg Rucka
ARTISTS: Mike Perkins, Andy Troy (Colorist), Simon Bowland (Letterer)
RELEASED: June 9, 2020

This thing was disjointed before the COVID interruption. Sadly, things haven’t changed in that regard. I love Greg Rucka, and Mike Perkins gives us some awesome art. But what the hell is going on in this story???

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