Tag Lee Loughridge

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #4 Micro-Review – The Wild and the Woke

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.***

Once Upon a Time a the End of the World 4, cover, February 2023, Mike Del MundoTITLE: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #4
AUTHOR:  Jason Aaron
ARTISTS: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), AndWorld Design (Letters). Cover by Mike Del Mundo. 
RELEASED: February 22, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

We get a better sense of who our bad guys are in this issue. They give out merit badges for things like masculinity, religious intolerance, and golf. Our heroes are also referred to at one point as “the wild and the woke.” Which, come to think of it, could have been the title of this series. Either way, “woke” us such a buzzword nowadays that this is bound to irk some conservative readers.

Color me aghast.

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A Tim Drake: Robin #6 Micro-Review – Robin Kissing a Boy

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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.***

Tim Drake Robin 6, cover, February 2023, Ricardo Lopez OrtizTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #6
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz.
RELEASED: February 28, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The novelty of Robin kissing a boy on a comic book cover should not be lost on readers. Especially those of us who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, when Tim Drake was created.

The book’s first arc wraps up here, and it was a decent one that ends on a nice note for Tim. I maintain that Riley Rossmo is a bit of an acquired taste for this particular book. But he makes it work. I’m looking forward to see what’s next for Tim Drake: Robin.

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

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #3 Micro-Review – The Evolving Dynamic

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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.***

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World 3, cover, January 2023, Alexandre TefenkgiTITLE: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #3
AUTHOR: Jason Aaron
ARTISTS: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Nick Dragotta, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Rico Renzi (Colorist), AndWorld Design (Letters). Cover by Mike Del Mundo.
RELEASED: January 25, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Between a full-frontal shot of old-man Maceo, and some well-placed F-bombs, this almost felt like an issue of Saga. Not necessarily in a bad way, though.

The most interesting thing about this book continues to be the evolving dynamic between Mezzy and Maceo. How they contrast, how they influence each other, etc. Thus far, the series has been at its strongest when it’s just the two of them. It’ll be interesting to see how that changes, or doesn’t change, as the story continues to expand.

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

A Tim Drake: Robin #5 Micro-Review – A Salty Nemesis

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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.***

Tim Drake Robin 5, cover, January 2023, Ricardo Lopez OrtizTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #5
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Josh Reed (Letterer). Cover by Ortiz.
RELEASED: January 24, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I like the idea of Tim getting his own arch nemesis. A Professor Moriarty to his Sherlock Holmes, etc. That’s what much of this story, and this issue in particular, build toward. The route the issue takes toward the reveal of our nemesis is a little befuddling, as it’s got a bunch of salt monsters, and a moment where Tim has to make himself vomit. But I like the destination we got to.

Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, who’s been our cover artist, does some interior work here. Thankfully, his style is similar enough to Rossmo’s that it works out okay.

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

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #2 Micro-Review – A Spark of Sweet Humanity

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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.***

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World 2, cover, December 2022, Mike Del MundoTITLE: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #2
AUTHOR: Jason Aaron
ARTISTS: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), AndWorld Design (Letters). Cover by Mike Del Mundo.
RELEASED: December 28, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The most endearing part of Once Upon a Time at the End of the World thus far has been watching Mezzy, our hardened, no-nonsense survivalist extraordinaire, gradually warm up to her new companion Maceo. More than anything, it’s that spark of sweet humanity that has made these last two issues work so well.

Jason Aaron also uses this issue as a chance to fill in some of Mezzy’s backstory, as well as the larger world of the book. His ability to keep those storytelling plates spinning at the same time is commendable.

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

A Tim Drake: Robin #4 Micro-Review – The Batgirls Family

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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.***

tim_drake_robin_4_cover_december_2022_ricardo_lopez_ortiz (1)TITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #4
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz. 
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

The Batgirls, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, make an appearance in this issue. It’s interesting, in that Riley Rossmo’s art almost feels like it’s in the same family as that of Jorge Corona and Neil Googe, the two respective regular artists on the Batgirls series.

This issue also contains a sweet moment between Tim and his boyfriend Bernard. I initially wasn’t sure about the two of them as a couple, given their history as friends in the comics. But they’re growing on me.

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

A Detective Comics 2022 Annual Micro-Review – A Villain Problem

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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.***

TITLE: Detective Comics 2022 Annual
AUTHOR: Ram V
ARTISTS: Christopher Mitten, Rafael Albuquerque, Hayden Sherman, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Deron Bennett (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.

RELEASED: November 29, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

My eyes glazed over a little bit on this one. Detective Comics has, for my money, a bit of a villain problem right now in that they’re just not that interesting. This annual attempts to fill in some of their background by taking us back to Gotham circa 1776, and it’s simply not that interesting. We see 1776 versions of Batman, Two-Face, and Poison Ivy, which doesn’t do anything for me.

I can’t throw a lot of stones at the execution of the issue, though. Particularly when it comes to Hayden Sherman, who handles the majority of the art.

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

A Tim Drake: Robin #3 Micro-Review – The Most Effective Disguise in Comics

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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.***

Tim Drake Robin 3, cover, November 2022, Riley RossmoTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #3
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 22, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue suffers from bad timing. Normally the “all the past Robins together” thing works, whether it’s in a fight scenario or some kind of big group meeting. But we just saw it a couple weeks ago in Batman vs. Robin #3. So to see it again here came off a little lame.

Also lame? That Robin meets Tim Drake’s boyfriend Bernard in this issue, and Bernard doesn’t recognize him. It’s that classic, yet no less ridiculous rule that somehow the domino mask is the most effective disguise in superhero comics.

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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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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.