Tag Rico Renzi

A Batgirls #16 Micro-Review – Puppet Nightmare Fuel

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.***

Batgirls 16, cover, March 2023, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #16
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS:  Neil Googe, Geraldo Borges (Finishes), Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.
RELEASED: March 14, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue serves up some nightmare fuel in the form of robot puppets made up to look like the extended Batman family. Most of them are in classic costumes too. So the book gets some added fanboy cred there.

Neil Googe draws a pretty awesome Mad  Hatter. Neil Googe draws a lot of things pretty awesome. This is a really strong issue for him.

Has there ever been a Girl-Bat, i.e. a young female version of Man-Bat? Why do I ask? Oh, no reason…

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

A She-Hulk #10 Micro-Review – Gilmore Girls-ish

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.***

She-Hulk 10, cover, February 2023, Jen BartelTITLE: She-Hulk #10
AUTHOR: Rainbow Rowell
ARTISTS: Takeshi Miyazawa, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Jen Bartel. 
RELEASED: February 22, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This one felt a little Gilmore Girls-ish to me. We get Patsy Walker coming over to Jen’s place for a little girl talk after some drama with Jack of Hearts. Gilmore Girls-ish isn’t bad, by the way. It simply is what it is.

Incidentally, it’s taken me many  issues, but I’m gradually starting to care about Jack of Hearts. Slowly but surely…

These Jen Bartel covers seem to get more and more gorgeous as the months go by. I’m loving them.

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

A Batgirls #15 Micro-Review – An Essential Stephanie Brown Issue

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.***

Batgirls 15, cover, February 2023, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #15
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS:  Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Frank Cvetkovic (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern. 
RELEASED: February 14, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This is one of the better issues you’ll ever read about Stephanie Brown and her father, the Cluemaster. If they ever make a collection of essential Stephanie stories, this one should be included. It’s that strong. My hat’s off to Cloonan and Conrad for delivering the goods, and to Googe and Renzi for delivering on the drama and heart.

The centerpiece of this series is, as it should be, the friendship between our main characters, Stephanie and Cassandra. That’s one of the notes this issue ends on, and it really sticks the landing.

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

A She-Hulk #9 Micro-Review – A Battle With a Big Head

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.***

She-Hulk 9, cover, December 2022, Jen BartelTITLE: She-Hulk #9
AUTHOR: Rainbow Rowell
ARTISTS: Takeshi Miyazawa, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Jen Bartel. 
RELEASED: December 28, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

These Jen Bartel covers are consistently awesome. I always look forward to seeing them.

In this issue She-Hulk fights a short lady with an oversized head who’s dressed a little bit like Cable for some reason. Is she supposed to look like Cable? Probably not. But her look reminds me of Cable.

Those of us who aren’t too into fourth-wall breaking won’t be a fan of this issue, as Jen literally tears apart the page she’s on and talks to her author. I was actually surprised Rainbow Rowell didn’t talk back to her in some way.

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

A Batgirls 2022 Annual Micro-Review – A Different Perspective

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.***

Batgirls 2022 Annual, cover, November 2022, Robbi Rodriguez, Rico RenziTITLE: Batgirls 2022 Annual
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Robbi Rodriguez, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 29, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I thought the body-switch storyline we see here might have been a one-off for the annual. But as it turns out, it’s continuing into Batgirls #13. Thankfully, they’re using it for more than just comedy. There’s the potential for some really nice character exploration with the story. They’ve got me looking forward to more.

Robbi Rodriguez’s style is a little more conventional than what Batgirls has shown us from Jorge Corona and Neil Googe. We didn’t need a break from that more quirky style. But it’s nonetheless nice to see things from what feels like a different perspective.

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

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #1 Micro-Review – A Quality Recipe

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.***

Once Upon a Time at the End of the World 1, cover, November 2022, Mike Del MundoTITLE: Once Upon a Time at the End of the World #1
AUTHOR: Jason Aaron
ARTISTS: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Nick Dragotta, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Rico Renzi (Colorist), AndWorld Design (Letterer). Cover by Mike Del Mundo.

RELEASED: November 23, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

What we have here is Jason Aaron’s answer to the post-apocalyptic YA romance novel.  And thus far, it’s a pretty good one.

We’re in a world that’s been ravaged presumably by climate change and pollution. Our only two characters are a pair of young people meeting for the first time. One is quirky and endearing, the other is quiet and deadly. We’ve also got art that’s fun, interesting, and versatile in terms of its ability to do action, comedy, and drama. All of this makes for a recipe for a good series. This is one to watch.

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

A Batgirls #12 Micro-Review – Classic (Not S&M) Riddler

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.***

Batgirls 12, cover, 2022, Jorge Corona, Sarah Stern, RiddlerTITLE: Batgirls #12
AUTHOR: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.

RELEASED: November 8, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Neil Googe and Rico Renzi put together a really fun rendition of the Riddler. Classic Riddler, mind you. Not S&M Riddler.

Batgirls has hit its stride, and become one of the most fun offerings at DC Comics right now. Not just because of the dynamics between the characters, but work Neil Googe is turning in. It’s a bit unconventional for a Bat-book. But he’s making it work. I’m hopeful this series has a long life in front of it.

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

A She-Hulk #7 Micro-Review – The Sexual She-Hulk

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.***

She-Hulk 7, cover, 2022, Jen BartelTITLE: She-Hulk #7
AUTHOR: Rainbow Rowell
ARTISTS: Luca Maresca, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Jen Bartel.

RELEASED: November 2, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue sees Jen represent a supervillain’s cyborg doppleganger who’s being tried for the crimes of the genuine article. Now that‘s the kind of lawyer work I want to see her doing!

Things get a little sexy in the early portion of this issue. I know it’s nothing new to see She-Hulk portrayed in a sexy light. But as a newer She-Hulk reader, it feels a little weird to me. After all, you rarely if ever see her male counterpart used that way, do you?

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

A Batgirls #11 Micro-Review – Arkham Zoo?!?

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.***

Batgirls 11, cover, 2022, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #11
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Scott Godlewski, Wayne Faucher (Co-Inker), Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.

RELEASED: October 11, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Cloonan and Conrad are doing a nice job making the Gotham Academy characters feel important and relevant to Batgirls. I never read GA, but always heard good things.

As I’m a stickler for this sort of thing, I have to point out that while there is a zoo in this issue, there is in fact no Arkham Zoo as the cover suggests. No pack of tigers surrounding our heroes either.

Who would you keep at Arkham Zoo, anyway? All the animal-themed villains? The Penguin? Killer Croc? Man-Bat?

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

A Batgirls #10 Micro-Review – Animated Grit

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.***

Batgirls 10, cover, 2022, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #10
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.
RELEASED: September 13, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For my tastes, Neil Googe and Rico Renzi’s art is a little easier on the palette. It’s highly animated at times, especially when it comes to Stephanie Brown. But at the same time it’s got a certain grit to it that fits Gotham City well. Let’s call it animated grit…

Steph gets a love interest in this issue. It comes off pretty charming, largely thanks to the way Neil Googe and Rico Renzi draw it. After a couple decades of conditioning, having that love interest not be Tim Drake is going to take some getting used to.

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