Tag Rafa Sandoval

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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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. 

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An Action Comics #1051 Micro-Review – Family, Quality, and a Boob Joke

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 1051, cover, January 24, 2023TITLE: Action Comics #1051
AUTHORS: Philip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, Leah Williams
ARTISTS: Various. Cover by Dan Mora. 
RELEASED: January 24, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I’ve never been a huge fan of Superman having an extended “family” the way someone like Batman does. To me, it ruins his whole “Last Son of Krypton” thing. But damn, look at that cover. At least Dan Mora makes them look good.

There’s an “untold chapter” in this issue from Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks’ Lois and Clark series. It’s quality, just like that series was.

Power Girl also gets a spotlight story in this issue, complete with a boob joke. Because I guess we can’t have a Power Girl story without at least one boob joke. Oye…

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Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 Micro-Review – Checked Out

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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.***

Dartk Crisis on Infinite Earths 6, cover, 2022, Daniel Sampere, Alejandro SanchezTITLE: Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 (of 7)
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Daniel Sampere, Rafa Sandoval (Layouts), Alejandro Sanchez (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 8, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I hate to say it, but I’ve pretty much checked out of Dark Crisis at this point. The book has simply lacked tension or grip. It might have made for a mildly compelling storyline in the pages of a Justice League series. But a sequel to Crisis on Infinite Earths? No. Just no.

One of the real shames here is that, while the writing has been a let-down, the art has largely been spectacular. I can’t find many, if any, bad things to say about the performance Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sanchez have turned in.

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

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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.***

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 Black Adam #3 Micro-Review – A God and a Mortal

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.***

Black Adam 3, cover, 2022, Irvin RodriguezTITLE: Black Adam #3
AUTHOR: Christopher Priest
ARTISTS: Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Irvin Rodriguez.
RELEASED: August 16, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

It’s difficult for me to get interested in “gods” in the context of superhero stories. That’s why I have a hard time getting into the mythology of characters like Wonder Woman, Thor, etc. Black Adam #3 is heavy on that kind of stuff. So my eyes inadvertently glazed over during much of it.

Thankfully, the Malik White character and his journey still have my interest. So this wasn’t a total loss from a story perspective.

I’ll say this much: Rafa Sandoval and Matt Herms make things look pretty, at least.

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

A Black Adam #2 Micro-Review – Meeting Malik White

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 2, cover, 2022, IRvin RodriguezTITLE: Black Adam #2 (of 12)
AUTHOR: Christopher Priest
ARTISTS: Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms (Colorist), Willie Schubert (Letterer). Cover by Irvin Rodriguez.

RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Christopher Priest actually does something fairly uncommon with Malik White, who allegedly inherits Black Adam’s power. The character gets injected with a lot of “witty banter,” yet manages to be fairly entertaining, as opposed to annoying.

I don’t know much about Black Adam’s recent history, and my interest in the new movie is relatively low. But Priest, Sandoval, and this team have nonetheless created something that’s captured my interest. Here’s hoping they can sustain it for 10 more issues.

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

A Teen Titans Academy #11 Micro-Review – Shazam’s Farewell

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: Teen Titans Academy #11
AUTHOR: Tim Sheridan
ARTISTS: Rafa Sandoval & Jordi Tarragona, Brent Peeples, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Jeremiah Skipper (Colorist), Matt Herms (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Sandoval & Sinclair.

RELEASED: January 25, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I didn’t like this one. First off, the cover seems to indicate that we’ll finally get Red X’s identity. That doesn’t happen.

Secondly, Shazam gives the teachers a heartfelt goodbye in this issue, which doesn’t land because we haven’t explored Billy Batson’s relationship with the Titans to any great length. That’s a bizarre misstep, considering we had a four-issue Shazam! miniseries that directly tied into Teen Titans Academy.

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

A Teen Titans Academy #10 Micro-Review – Proper Use of an Invisibility Cloak

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.***

Teen Titans Academy 10, cover, 2021, Rafa SandovalTITLE: Teen Titans Academy #10
AUTHOR: Tim Sheridan
ARTISTS: Mike Norton, Tom Derenick, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Jeremiah Skipper (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Rafa Sandoval & Alejandro Sanchez.

RELEASED: December 28, 2021

Raven has a line in this issue where she tells Stitch that a magic invisibility cloak isn’t meant for sneaking around. I found that both hilarious, and a little stupid. From an in-universe perspective, what else would you use an invisibility cloak for? Perhaps we should ask Harry Potter.

As this series has gone on, we’ve learned bits and pieces about Red X. In this issue, the details air on the sympathetic side. While we still don’t know who it is, that does give this mystery character a bit of a teenage flair. That’s an interesting little twist.

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

A Teen Titans Academy #9 Micro-Review – Life After Death

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: Teen Titans Academy #9
AUTHOR: Tim Sheridan
ARTISTS: Mike Norton, Hi-Fi (Colors), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Rafa Sandoval & Alejandro Sanchez.

RELEASED: December 14, 2021

I tensed up when I saw “The End Begins Here!” I have a fear that they’re going to pull the plug on this series before its time comes…

There’s a mention in this issue of finding Roy Harper’s young daughter Lian, who apparently is missing. Once all this Red X business is sorted out, that might be an interesting plot to explore with the classic Titans.

This issue also has a sentimental reunion between Roy and the man who seemingly killed him in Heroes in Crisis, Wally West. Nice. Anything that defies Heroes in Crisis is good in my book.

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