Tag Matt Herms

The Flash #795 Micro-Review – “Flash Family, Forward!”

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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.***

The Flash 795, cover, March 2023, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #795
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS:  Roger Cruz, George Hambadais, Fernando Pasarin, Wellington Dias (Inker), Oclair Albert (Inker), Luis Guerrero & Matt Herms (Colorists), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.
RELEASED: March 21, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For the record, nobody dies in this issue, as the cover suggests.

Barry Allen says a couple of interesting/fun things, though. At one point, he flat out tells Linda that speedsters exist outside of time. Specifically, that they’re “separate from our regular…’continuity’ for lack of a better word.” If that’s not a meta moment, I don’t know what is.

Barry also gives the speedsters an “Avengers Assemble!” type battle cry: “Flash Family, Forward!” Not nearly as catchy. But it works, I suppose.

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

An Action Comics #1052 Micro-Review – Kryptonian Variety

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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 1052, cover, February 2023, Steve BeachTITLE: Action Comics #1052
AUTHORS: Philip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, Leah Willias
ARTISTS: Various. Cover by Steve Beach.

RELEASED: February 28, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Action Comics is stronger these days than it’s been in quite some time. There’s a really nice variety being presented here in terms of both writing and art. That’s thanks to the two back-up features we’re getting, one acting as a sequel to the old Lois and Clark comic, the other dedicated to Power Girl. I confess, I’m partial to the former, as I was a big fan of Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks’ work on the old book.

Really strong opening sequence this month with Superman and Metallo by Rafa Sandoval and colorist Matt Herms. 

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

A TMNT: The Armageddon Game #5 Micro-Review – Struggling to Catch Up

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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: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #5
AUTHOR: Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: Vincenzo Federici, Alex Sanchez (Inker), Matt Herms & Heather Breckel (Colorists), Shawn Lee (Letterer)
RELEASED: February 8, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue features two aliens fighting. One is in a big robot suit, the other is in the corpse of an anthropomorphic mutant triceratops. Pretty cool, right?

And yet, despite the inherent coolness, every time I read one of these Armageddon Game issues I feel like I’m struggling to catch up. There’s so much going on, so many characters, etc. In essence, I’ve got the same complaint with this issue that I’ve had with most of the other ones. Nothing new to report in that sense.

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

The Flash #789 Micro-Review – Comfort Food

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.***

The Flash 789, cover, December 2022, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #789
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan (Inker), Matt Herms (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.

RELEASED: December 20, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

You know what The Flash is right now? Comfort food. At least for me. Between Wally West being back in the role, and the light and fun family dynamic at the center of things, it feels good to read The Flash these days. In an era where DC is trying to get back to more hopeful storytelling, this series is leading the pack.

Pasarin, Ryan, and Herms are also on point for this issue. Flash and the Rogues are all rendered damn near perfectly. There’s also a scene in the mayor’s office in which Pasarin excels with Flash’s body language.

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

TMNT: The Armageddon Game #3 Micro-Review – Filling Space in Space

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.***

TMNT Armageddon Game 3, cover, December 2022, Ray Anthony HeightTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #3
AUTHOR: Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: Vincenzo Federici, Alex Sanchez (Inker), Matt Herms (Colorist), Jake M. Wood (Letterer). Variant cover by Ray Anthony Height & Gigi Dutriex.

RELEASED: December 7, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Jennika looks a little pouty, on that cover doesn’t she? I mean, I know things aren’t really going her way at the moment, but c’mon now.

I still feel lost in the woods with this whole Armageddon Game thing. We’ve got some of our heroes handling business on Earth, and then some of them in space. But what are we doing in space? It feels like all the real potential drama is happening planetside, and we’re filling space in…well, space.

The silver lining? We now have Cudley in the IDWverse. (Google him, kids.)

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

The Flash #788 Micro-Review – An Insane Mayor?!?

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.***

The Flash 788, cover, 2022, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #788
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan (Inker), Matt Herms (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.

RELEASED: November 15, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Deputizing the Rogues, as the new mayor of Central City does in this issue, makes for interesting story possibilities. And thankfully, the story realizes just how insane the whole thing is.

One of the most endearing things about this Jeremy Adams Flash run is how he writes Wally and Linda West. They’re almost impossibly in love. But not to the point that it’s grating. You root for them and their family. That’s a sign of quality writing. And Pasarin, Ryan, and Herms offer some quality art along with it.

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

A TMNT: The Armageddon Game #1 Micro-Review – An Intimidating Scope

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.***

TMNT Armageddon Game 1, variant cover, 2022, Kevin EastmanTITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Armageddon Game #1
AUTHOR: Tom Waltz
ARTISTS: Vincenzo Federici, Matt Herms (Colorist), Shawn Lee (Letterer). Variant cover by Kevin Eastman.

RELEASED: September 28, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue makes it apparent how wide the scope of this Armageddon Game story is. It touches every major character (a lot of minor ones too) introduced into IDW’s TMNTverse since the series’ introduction in 2011. Even as someone who’s followed that universe since its inception, the scope of this story is a little intimidating. I get the sense there’s going to be a lot to follow here…

And yet, by the end of this issue things start to get interesting. So I can’t say I won’t be reading along.

I love that Krang/Leatherhead hybrid design, by the way.

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

A Black Adam #4 Micro-Review – Hell and Hijinks

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.***

Black Adam 4, cover, 2022, Irvin RodriguezTITLE: Black Adam #4 (of 12)
AUTHOR: Christopher Priest
ARTISTS: Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms (Colorist), Willie Schubert (Letterer). Cover by Irvin Rodriguez.

RELEASED: September 20, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

What I said last time about my inability to get interested in Black Adam’s exchanges with godly characters still stands. But once again, Malik White’s adventures get me through the issue. This month, a certain rhyming Demon visits him at home. Hell and hijinks break lose. Great stuff.

So can we talk about how “White Adam” is apparently Malik’s supehero name? My initial instinct was to facepalm at that. But let’s be honest: Is it that much worse than Black Adam?

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.

The Flash 2022 Annual #1 Micro-Review – A Writer and a Reporter

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.***

The Flash 2022 Annual 1, cover, Marguerite SauvageTITLE: The Flash 2022 Annual #1
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Serg Acuna, Matt Herms (Colorist), Justin Birch (Letterer). Cover by Marguerite Sauvage.
RELEASED: August 30, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Quote from this issue: “A writer is just a reporter that gets paid less.”

I’ve been a reporter, and I’m not sure that’s true…

This issue consists of a comic book version of Linda’s novel. I can’t say it’s 100 percent what I was hoping to see when I opened it. We don’t actually see the Flash in the story. But it does provide a nice glimpse into her mind, and how she sees her relationship with Wally.

Serg Acuna and Matt Herms are definitely a winning combination on the art. I’d love to see more from them.

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