Tag Dave Sharpe

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.

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

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.

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

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.

An Action Comics #1047 Micro-Review – Superman Returns

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.***

Action Comics 1047, cover, 2022, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1047
AUTHOR: Philip Kennedy Johnson
ARTISTS: Riccardo Federici, David Lapham, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Trish Mulvihill (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Steve Beach.

RELEASED: September 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

First and foremost, that cover is a thing of goddamn beauty. Steve Beach seems to be channeling George Reeves with his take on Superman. The colors are gorgeous too.

This is my first issue of Action Comics in awhile. As such, I’d forgotten just how good a handle Philip Kennedy Johnson has on the Superman character. He proves that very early on here.

Riccardo Federici and Lee Loughridge’s “sketchy” art is a really nice change of pace. It’s not necessarily what you expect to see when you pick up a Superman comic. But in this case, that’s a good thing.

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

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #15 Micro-Review – Bitch-Slapping Bendix

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 Son of Kal-El 15, cover, 2022, Travis Moore, Tamra BonvillainTITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #15
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Scott Hanna (Co-Inker), Federico Blee & Matt Herms (Colorists), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.
RELEASED: September 13, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a panel in this issue where Robin slaps Henry Bendix, and it’s drawn exactly like the old panel used for the “Batman slaps Robin” meme. I found that a little lame, notwithstanding that it really should have been Superman or Jay Nakamura that got the big punch on Bendix.

While this issue does manage to stick the landing at the end, things nonetheless feel rushed. I get the sense Taylor had to rush the ending to make way for the big crossover where Kal-El returns to Earth next month. Not ideal. But understandable.

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

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #14 Micro-Review – T.N.Teen!!!

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 #14
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Federico Blee (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.
RELEASED: August 9, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We see the Revolutionaries again in this issue. I’d forgotten that one of them is named T.N.Teen. That’s one of the most gloriously hokey superhero names I’ve ever heard.

I like the tense dynamic this series has created with the fictional nation of Gamorra. But I do wish that Gamorra’s president and our main villain, Henry Bendix, was a little more distinct. Right now he’s essentially a poor man’s Lex Luthor.

And I’m just now reading that Bendix is apparently a villain for the Midnighter. That’s cool. But my point still stands.

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

A Superman: Space Age #1 Micro-Review – Simply Glorious

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 1, cover, 2022, Mike AllredTITLE: Superman: Space Age #1
AUTHOR: Mark Russell
ARTISTS: Mike Allred, Laura Allred (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)
RELEASED: July 26, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Be ready for this one. It’s hefty. If you’re a slow reader, grab a sandwich.

Thankfully, it’s worth it. Mark Russell gives us what, in many ways, is a DC: The New Frontier type story set in the ’60s and centered around Superman. It comes out beautifully. He drops several profound truths that really resonate with the world today.

And Mike and Laura Allred? The art they deliver is gorgeous as always. Their take on Superman is up there with some of the best I’ve ever seen.

If you only buy one comic this week, make it this one.

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

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #13 Micro-Review – Death and Dreamer

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 13, cover, 2022, Travis Moore, Tamra BonvillainTITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #13
AUTHORS: Nicole Maines, Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Clayton Henry, Marcelo Maiolo & Matt Herms (Colorists), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.

RELEASED: July 12, 2022

Dreamer doesn’t get the most dynamic debut I’ve ever seen. But she intrigues me enough that I want to see more. There’s a lot to be said for that.

This issue has a “death of the Justice League” fantasy (not to be confused with the “Death of the Justice League” storyline). It’s fine. But when you’ve been reading comics as long as I have, you know that when you’ve seen one of these sequences, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Not much to write home about.

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

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #12 Micro-Review – Enough is Enough

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 12, cover, 2022, Travis MooreTITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #12
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey & Ruairi Coleman, Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.
INKERS: Scott Hanna, Coleman, Raul Fernandez, Tormey
COLORISTS: Federico Blee, Matt Herms

RELEASED: June 14, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I think I’ve officially had enough of Batman and Nightwing having a consistent presence in this book. Guest spots are fine. But as I’ve said many times before, we don’t need Batman characters here as window dressing.

This cover by Travis Moore and Tamra Bonvillain is one of my favorites on this series so far. For me, it’s all in Jon’s face. It looks genuine.

There’s an interesting twist here involving Jon’s boyfriend, Jay Nakamura, that offers a good amount of intrigue for issues to come. Things are about to get very, very personal…

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

A Superman: Son of Kal-El #11 Micro-Review – A Quiet Respect

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 11, cover, 2022, Travis Moore, Tamra BonvillainTITLE: Superman: Son of Kal-El #11
AUTHOR: Tom Taylor
ARTISTS: Cian Tormey, Federico Blee & Matt Hermes (Colors), Dave Sharpe (Letterer). Cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain.

RELEASED: May 10, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We’ve got both Batman and Nightwing doing guest spots in this book. As always, Batman characters tend to pull focus away from Superman characters. So I’m generally not a fan of them popping up in Big Blue’s books.

However, there is a pretty cool moment in this issue where Jonathan Kent, Clark Kent’s father, pulls Batman aside and says, “Bruce, I’d like a word, son.” With one line, we see that Jonathan Kent commands a quite respect, even from the likes of Batman.

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