Tag Dave Sharpe

An Action Comics #1053 Micro-Review – More Zombies

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

Action Comics 1053, cover, March 2023, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1053
AUTHORS: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, Leah Williams
ARTISTS:  Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer), Lee Weeks, Elizabeth Breitweiser (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer), Marguerite Sauvage, Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.
RELEASED: March 28, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

It’s been a zombie-heavy month for Superman. Over in his titular book, he fought a city full of Parasite zombies. Here in Action Comics, he’s fighting Metallo zombies.

There’s a really sweet scene here between Jon and…Osul? She’s the female twin, right?

These powergirl back-ups by Leah Williams and Marguerite Sauvage aren’t my favorite part of this new incarnation of Action Comics. But Sauvage’s art is undeniably gorgeous.

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A Superman: Space Age #3 Micro-Review – The Batman Trap, Continued…

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

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

Superman Spage Age 3, cover, February 2023, Mike AllredTITLE: Superman: Space Age #3
AUTHOR: Mark Russell
ARTISTS: Mike Allred, Laura Allred (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)
RELEASED: February 21, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This one actually made me angry. Like, physically angry.

Superman: Space Age had an amazing first issue. As in, one of the most amazing starts to a Superman story I’ve read in quite some time. But both this issue and issue #2 fell into what I’ll call the “Batman trap.” In essence, Batman was introduced and took center-stage for enough pages that Space Age could qualify as a Batman/Superman story, as opposed to just a Superman one. It’s an easy trap for DC Comics writers to fall into. But I thought Mark Russell was better than that.

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An Action Comics #1050 Micro-Review – Back to Normal

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

Action Comics 1050, cover, December 2022, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1050
AUTHORS: Philip Kennedy Johnson, Tom Taylor, Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Mike Perkins, Clayton Henry, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue undoes what might have been the biggest longterm effect of Brian Michael Bendis’ work with Superman’s world. It’s not necessarily surprising, as we pretty much knew it wasn’t going to last anyway. In effect, things are back to normal for Superman and Clark Kent.

Perry White has a minor stroke/heart episode in this issue. It makes you wonder, if Perry is so old and frail, how is he able to run The Daily Planet? As someone who’s worked as a journalist, if you think that’s not a stressful job, think again.

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A Superman: Son of Kal-El #18 Micro-Review – Superman vs. Twitter?

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

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

TITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #18
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Ruairi Coleman, Scott Hanna (Co-Inker), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.

RELEASED: December 13, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We learn in this issue that Red Sin, Jon Kent’s new enemy, has been posting hateful stuff about him on social media. Does that mean we’ve got Superman fighting a Twitter troll? Hey, seems like a perfectly despicable villain to me. Especially after all the fake outrage that was generated on social media after the revelation that Jon was bi.

The Justice League are rebuilding Jonathan and Martha Kent’s house when we open the issue. Martha wonders if the Justice League should be prioritizing them, and Wonder Woman replies that they are Justice League. I love that.

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A Batgirls 2022 Annual Micro-Review – A Different Perspective

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

Batgirls 2022 Annual, cover, November 2022, Robbi Rodriguez, Rico RenziTITLE: Batgirls 2022 Annual
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Robbi Rodriguez, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 29, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I thought the body-switch storyline we see here might have been a one-off for the annual. But as it turns out, it’s continuing into Batgirls #13. Thankfully, they’re using it for more than just comedy. There’s the potential for some really nice character exploration with the story. They’ve got me looking forward to more.

Robbi Rodriguez’s style is a little more conventional than what Batgirls has shown us from Jorge Corona and Neil Googe. We didn’t need a break from that more quirky style. But it’s nonetheless nice to see things from what feels like a different perspective.

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An Action Comics #1049 Micro-Review – Bring On Bibbo!

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

Action Comics 1049, cover, 2022, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1049
AUTHOR: Philip Kennedy Johnson
ARTISTS: Mike Perkins, David Lapham, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Trish Mulvihill (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.

RELEASED: November 22, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

You know who I’m starting to develop an affection for? Bibbo Bibbowski, Superman’s dopey civilian buddy. He’s had a small role these past issues, and he’s kinda grown on me. He’s not consistently around in the comics, so I hope he’s here for awhile.

We have a cover that doesn’t reflect anything that happens in the issue. It’s another gorgeous one by Steve Beach. Just not really relevant.

David Lapham and Trish Mulvihill once again steal the show in the Supergirl back-up.

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A Superman: Son of Kal-El #17 Micro-Review – The Big Talk

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

Superman Son of Kal-El 17, cover, 2022, Travis Moore, Tamra BonvillainTITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #17
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Ruairi Coleman, Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.

RELEASED: November 8, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue is centered around Jon being afraid to talk to his dad about his bisexuality. It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that the matter ends on a high note. Because…y’know, his dad is Superman. He says all the right things. But it’s still a nice little window into what I’m sure a large percentage of LGBTQ people go through with their parents. Even those who aren’t as supportive as Superman.

Artistically, the opening scene in this issue is fun. A nice little race sequence between father and son. It made me smile.

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An Action Comics #1048 Micro-Review – Osul-Ra, Otho-Ra, and…Orion?

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

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

Action Comics 1048, cover, 2022, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1048
AUTHOR: Philip Kennedy Johnson
ARTISTS: Mike Perkins, David Lapham, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Trish Mulvihill (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.

RELEASED: October 25, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The New Gods make the presence felt in this issue. Is Orion a bad guy now? I thought he was a good guy…

I missed the introduction of these twins, Osul-Ra and Otho-Ra in previous issues of Action. But apparently we need to take note of them, as they’ll be a part of the extended “Superman family” going forward.

Loved David Lapham’s work on the “Red Moon” back-up this month. He draws a hell of a Supergirl, especially in that newer costume.

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A Superman: Son of Kal-El #16 Micro-Review – Daddy’s Back

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

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

Superman Son of Kal-El 16, cover, 2022, Travis Moore, Tamra BonvillainTITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #16
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Ruairi Coleman, Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.

RELEASED: October 11, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We knew that Jon Kent’s father, the classic Superman, would be back eventually. That’s just how superhero comics work. But I wish Jon was allowed to remain the one and only Superman for awhile longer. In many ways, he’s a character that better reflects the world we live in now.

The impetus is on DC now to keep Jon Kent special, and not allow him to fade into the background.

We see the Ultra-Humanite in this issue, and he looks about as imposing and scary as I’ve ever seen him. My hat’s off to our artists for that.

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A Superman: Space Age #2 Micro-Review – The Batman Trap

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

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

Superman Space Age 2, cover, 2022, Mike AllredTITLE: Superman: Space Age #2
AUTHOR: Mark Russell
ARTISTS: Mike Allred, Laura Allred (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: September 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue is largely about power, and what Superman does with his power compared to what other characters do with theirs. It’s a theme that Mark Russell handles almost perfectly…

After such a glorious first issue, I was borderline angry to see this one fall into the Batman trap. In other words, it overemphasizes Batman in a story that’s not supposed to be about Batman. This is sadly common in Superman stories in particular. It’s a damn shame it happened here.

On the upside, the art continues to be amazing. So at least there’s that.

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