Tag Roger Cruz

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.

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The Flash #794 Micro-Review – Laughing at Miss Murder

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 794, cover, March 2023, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #794
AUTHOR:  Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS:  Roger Cruz, Wellington Dias (Co-Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.
RELEASED: March 7, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a panel in this issue where the Miss Murder character gets played for a laugh. That’s a mistake. This character is supposed to be like the Flash’s equivalent to the Batman Who Laughs, who’s a scary death-like character. Not necessarily good comedy fodder. Plus, we’re still learning about Miss Murder, getting used to her, etc. It just left a bad taste in my mouth.

As the (gorgeous) cover indicates, Irey West gets to shine in this issue. Curiously, that’s not what her costume actually looks like, though. Actually, her costume is practically identical to that of Impulse.

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The Flash #793 Micro-Review – The Flash’s Hot Rod?

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 793, cover, February 2023, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #793
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Wellington Dias (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.
RELEASED: February 21, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Wally drives a Speed-Force-powered hot rod in this issue. There’s something that feels inherently wrong about the Flash driving a car. But I suppose Jeremy Adams makes it work in the context of this story.

There’s a big scene between Barry and Wally in this issue, where they talk about what happened to Iris when this “One-Minute War” story began. It’s a fine scene. But for me, it was watered down by disbelief. Inevitably, what they did to Iris won’t stick. It’s just a question of how long she’ll be gone for…

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

The Flash #792 Micro-Review – “Oh…Snarglebargle.”

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 792, cover, February 2023, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #792
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Wellington Dias (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke. 
RELEASED: February 7, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a point in this issue where Wally says, “Oh…snarglebargle.” Is that a thing the Flash says? If it is, I ain’t mad at it. Just wondering…

Adams seems to be having fun writing Kid Flash and Impulse as a duo that gets into hijinks. Case in point, in this issue they steal a vehicle from the big enemy army. Again, I ain’t mad at it. I just hope he doesn’t overdo it.

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

The Flash #791 Micro-Review – They KILLED Her?!?

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 791, cover, January 2023, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #791
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Wellington Dias (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.
RELEASED: January 17, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Turns out they killed off a major character last issue. (It wasn’t made entirely clear.) On one hand, that’s pretty surprising. But on the other, 10 bucks says she’s alive again by the end.

This story has done a decent job so far of explaining why the Fraction are a group of bad guys that only the Flash family of heroes can fight. In normal alien invasion storylines in the DC Universe, you have inevitable questions like, “Why doesn’t Superman just stop them?” Those questions have been successfully neutralized here.

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

The Flash #790 Micro-Review – Have We Seen These Aliens Before?

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 790, cover, January 2023, Taurin ClarkeTITLE: The Flash #790
AUTHOR: Jeremy Adams
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Matt Banning & Wellington Dias (Inkers), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Taurin Clarke.
RELEASED: January 10, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

As the cover suggests, the “One-Minute War” storyline starts with an alien invasion. Have we seen these particular aliens before? I don’t think we have…

Either way, the story is off to a strong start. A big one, too. We see mass destruction, and it looks like virtually every speedster will be involved here. Jeremy Adams, Roger Cruz, and the creative team are hitting the right notes, thus far.

I’m on a Taurin Clarke kick lately. I’m really digging his cover work on not just The Flash, but Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

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

A Robin #12 Micro-Review – A Bogus Belt Buckle

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.***

Robin 12, cover, 2022, Victor BogdanovicTITLE: Robin #12
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Norm Rapmund (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Victor Bogdanovic.

RELEASED: March 22, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Look at Robin’s belt buckle. It’s stylized to look like a D. As in Damian. That’s lame. Like, really lame.

On the subject of the Robin costume, Damian fights an evil version of himself in this issue, who’s got alternate outfit that works well as a one-off. Honestly, sometimes I wish Damian’s gray suit was just a one-off. I miss the colors.

Roger Cruz isn’t the first to draw Damian with an older, slightly taller look. Is this becoming the norm? If so, that’s not bad. I’d just like to see it more consistently rendered across the DCU.

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

A Robin #10 Micro-Review – Riding on a Plateau

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.***

Robin 10, cover, 2022, Simone di MeoTITLE: Robin #10
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Norm Rapmund (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Simone di Meo.

RELEASED: January 25, 2022

For my money, Robin has plateaued for the time being. It’s not bad at all. But since we’ve gotten into this stuff with Ra’s al Ghul’s mother, things have stalled.

That being said, I can appreciate what Joshua Williamson has done as far as developing the “Mother of the Demon,” and how she ties into the origin of Ra’s, the Lazarus Pit, etc. It’s good writing. It’s just not the most compelling stuff in the world.

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A Robin #9 Micro-Review – An Overachiever

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: Robin #9
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Norm Rapmund (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Simone di Meo.

RELEASED: December 28, 2021

This issue overachieves, in my opinion. The fight against the big “Lazarus Demon” is better than I thought it would be. Damian has a nice rah-rah moment with the other tournament fighters. There’s even big callback to Batman: Year One. Tough to ask for more, right?

Alfred is clearly cast as a paternal figure for Damian in these issues, which I have mixed feelings about. They lay it on a little thick in this issue in particular.

I’m still missing the classic red, green, and yellow Robin colors. When does the gray suit go away?

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

A Robin 2021 Annual Micro-Review – Robin in Love…or Not?

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.***

Robin 2021 Annual, Jorge CoronaTITLE: Robin Annual 2021
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Roger Cruz, Victor Olazaba (Inker), Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Troy Peteri (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Guerrero.

RELEASED: November 30, 2021

A very well written and drawn, but mostly missable annual that dives into the backstory of some of our supporting characters.

See how it says “Robin in love?!” on the cover? I was hoping this issue would dive head-first into that. Has Damian ever had a love interest? I don’t think he has…

Williamson continues to give Connor Hawke more care and page time than he’s had in decades. Apparently his time with the Justice League is once again canon? I dunno. It’s DC. Check back next week and it might be out of continuity again.

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