Tag Dave Stewart

A Detective Comics #1067 Micro-Review – The Kingdom of Cold

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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.***

Detective Comics 1067, cover, December 2022, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1067
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Ivan Reis, Hayden Sherman, Danny Miki (Inker), Dave Stewart (Colorist), Nick Filardi (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The overarcing villains for Ram V’s run on Detective Comics aren’t really landing with me. Unfortunately, I’m actually finding them a bit boring…

But on the plus side, he writes a great scene between Batman and Mr. Freeze that Ivan Reis absolutely knocks out of the park. We see what, to an extent, is Mr. Freeze’s Batcave. He calls it the “Kingdom of Cold.” Great stuff.

The Simon Spurrier/Hayden Sherman back-up starring Two-Face hasn’t landed with me either. They do, however, stick the landing as it ends this month. So there’s that.

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A Detective Comics #1066 Micro-Review – Mixing It Up

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.***

Detective Comics 1066, cover, November 2022, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1066
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Ivan Reis, Hayden Sherman, Danny Miki (Inker), Dave Stewart (Colorist), Nick Filardi (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.

RELEASED: November 22, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

These days, Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock have their own detective. I dig that because, as we’ve seen a bit in recent issues of Detective, it allows Gordon to have his boots on the ground a little more and mix it up alongside Batman.

They’re doing something a little weird with Two-Face here. The character’s good side is in control, but he’s pretending the bad side is in control. All the while, the bad side is talking to Harvey Dent via his inner monologue. It’s a little twisted up, but interesting if you can follow along.

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Batman – One Bad Day: Mr. Freeze #1 Micro-Review – One Fundamental Flaw

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.***

Batman One Bad Day Mr. Freeze 1, cover, 2022, Matteo Scalera, Dave Stewart, Mr. FreezeTITLE: Batman – One Bad Day: Mr. Freeze #1
AUTHOR: Gerry Duggan
ARTISTS: Matteo Scalera, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Deron Bennett (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 15, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

My big issue with this…uh, issue, is that it paints Victor Fries as a bad apple even before the accident with his wife that turned him into Mr. Freeze. That waters down the tragedy element that makes the Mr. Freeze origin story so heart-breaking. The issue is otherwise well written and beautifully drawn. But it’s got that one fundamental flaw that drags it down.

On the upside, the story provides a nice glimpse into the kind heart of Dick Grayson, who is still Robin in this story.

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A Detective Comics #1065 Micro-Review – Downright Trippy

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.***

Detective Comics 1065, cover, 2022, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1065
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Rafael Albuquerque, Hayden Sherman, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Nick Filardi (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer). Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.

RELEASED: October 25, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a moment in this issue where Jim Gordon is with a vulnerable Batman, and it’s suggested that he take Batman’s mask off. He replies that he thinks he knows who’s under there, but he doesn’t want to know. I loved that. That’s perfect. That’s the philosophy Gordon should have as it relates to Batman.

I was excited to see Hayden Sherman’s name on the back-up for this issue. He’s been doing great work at IDW and Image recently. Sherman and Nick Filardi give us a Two-Face story that gets downright trippy.

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

A Detective Comics #1064 Micro-Review – “Panic Attacks My @#$%.”

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.***

Detective Comics 1064, cover, 2022, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1064
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Rafael Albuquerque, Dani, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.

RELEASED: September 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a sequence in this issue where a doctor suggests to Bruce Wayne that he may be having panic attacks. Bruce then proceeds to climb to the top of the building, say “Panic Attacks My @#$%,” and dive off.

Is that going anywhere? That’d be kind cool. As an anxiety sufferer myself, seeing Batman deal with panic attacks would be interesting. I’m sure it would be for a lot of people. After all, what could possibly give Batman a panic attack?

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

A Detective Comics #1063 Micro-Review – Digging Up the Maestro

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.***

Detective Comics 1063, cover, 2022, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1063
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Rafael Albuquerque, Dani, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.
RELEASED: August 23, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue digs up a Batman villain that even I’d never heard of: Payne Cardine, a.k.a. the Maestro. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ram V and Albuquerque do more with him.

I’m assuming the mask we see Harvey Dent/Two-Face wear in this issue is a Ram V/Albuquerque creation? I certainly haven’t seen it before. It fits with the gothic, operatic aesthetic they’re going with.

These Jim Gordon back-ups definitely put the detective in Detective Comics. It’s got that grim, gritty, pulpy, noir flavor that’s very much in sync with Batman’s world.

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

A Detective Comics #1062 Micro-Review – Going Goth

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.***

TITLE: Detective Comics #1062
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Rafael Albuquerque, Dani, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.
RELEASED: July 26, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Detective is embracing Batman’s gothic side with this story. Compared to last issue, much of this one is measurably darker. The texture is a little bit scratchier. We’ve got a very gothic looking opera scene, complete with a demon. It’s too early to judge the story. But it’s a way to go.

Our back-up story stars Jim Gordon. Between this, and what James Tynion IV had him doing over in The Joker, I’m really digging him in the detective role. It allows him to get his hands dirty in a way he often couldn’t as the commissioner.

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

A One-Star Squadron #3 Micro-Review – An Unexpected Guest

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.***

One-Star Squadron 1, cover, 2022, Steve LieberTITLE: One-Star Squadron #3
AUTHOR: Mark Russell
ARTISTS: Steve Lieber, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: February 1, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Superman (the classic version, as opposed to the Tom Taylor version) is in this issue. He’s got a great line about people becoming heroes “because they can’t accept the world as it is.”

I’ll go ahead and write Mark Russell down as somebody who knows how Superman should be written, even in a comedic setting like this one. Although in all honesty, this issue doesn’t go for laughs as much as the first two did. There’s actually a fairly emotional, and even relatable scene with Red Tornado. It was unexpected, but I’m not complaining.

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

A One-Star Squadron #2 Micro-Review – Sympathetic Yet Comedic

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.***

One-Star Squadron 2, cover, 2022, Steve LieberTITLE: One-Star Squadron #2
AUTHOR: Mark Russell
ARTISTS: Steve Lieber, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: January 4, 2022

This issue does a nice job of making Minute Man, who we spend most of the issue with, sympathetic yet comedic. That’s not necessarily an easy balance to strike.

Minute Man goes to a comic book convention in this issue. *sigh* I miss conventions. Namely C2E2.

Mark Russell does a great job of making One-Star Squadron genuinely funny. As such, it’s a joy to read. I’m not sure how nice it is to Power Girl and Red Tornado from a character perspective. But that’s another matter entirely…

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

A One-Star Squadron #1 Micro-Review – A Familiar Comedic Twist

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.***

One-Star Squadron 1, cover, 2021, Steve LieberTITLE: One-Star Squadron #1 (of 6)
AUTHOR: Mark Russell
ARTISTS: Steve Lieber, Dave Stewart (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: December 7, 2021

It’s Justice League International…ish.

That’s what I thought both going into and coming out of One-Star Squadron. For the record, that’s not a bad thing. The market is wide open at DC for a quality comedy book in the JLI vein. And it looks like now we may have it.

Power Girl fans may come away from this one miffed, as it essentially turns her into a sell out. But maybe that’s just her character arc…?

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