Tag Steve Wands

A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #14 Micro-Review – The Green Arrow Tease

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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.***

Batman Superman Worlds Finest 14, cover, April 2023, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #14
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: April 18, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Oliver Queen appears in this issue. Not Green Arrow, mind you, Oliver Queen in civilian mode. I can only assume that means we’ll get Green Arrow at some point in the next few issues. If not, that’s a hell of a tease for Dan Mora drawing Green Arrow.

This “Elementary” storyline is the first time in the 20-some years I’ve been reading comics that I feel like I’m really getting to know Metamorpho. That’s a testament to Mark Waid’s love of the DC Universe.

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A Detective Comics #1070 Micro-Review – A Question of Anger

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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.***

Detective Comics 1070, cover, March 2023, Stefano RaffaeleTITLE: Detective Comics #1070
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Stefano Raffaele, Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Caspar Wijngaaard, Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: March 28, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

By and large, I’m still having trouble getting invested in Detective Comics these days. And considering this has been the book’s direction for many months now, I’m doubting that will change any time soon.

There is, however, a decent passage in here where Bruce wonders if the anger and rage he feels as Batman are what define him as a person, and if he truly needs his darkness to function as Batman. That’s more interesting than virtually anything Detective has given us for awhile now.

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A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #13 Micro-Review – Refresher Course

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.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 13, cover, March 2023, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #13
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: March 21, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue dives into Metamorpho’s origin story. It’s a nice little refresher course for readers who aren’t familiar with him.

Waid, Mora, and Bonvillain also give us some quality work with Jimmy Olsen here. Hat-tip to them for that. A more modern take on Jimmy Olsen can be tough to get right. They do a pretty good job, though.

Also? Batgirl is in this issue. Very nice to see Mora and Bonvillain work on her.

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

A Detective Comics #1069 Micro-Review – Friends and Comrades

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.***

Detective Comics 1069, cover, February 2023, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1069
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Dexter Soy, Stefano Raffaele, Miguel Mendonca, Adriano Lucas (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Caspar Winjgaard, Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.
RELEASED: February 28, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

These back-up stories we get in Detective Comics are hit-or-miss for me. This month we start a new one centered around Mr. Freeze. Thankfully, it looks like it’s a hit. Especially when it comes to Caspar Winjgaard’s art.

Meanwhile, Ram V is gradually adding a newish dimension to Batman’s relationship with Jim Gordon, expanding on their relationship as friends and comrades. While his larger story isn’t landing for me, his take on the Batman/Gordon dynamic is interesting.

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A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #12 Micro-Review – One Bad Date

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.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 12, cover, February 2023, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #12
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Emanuela Lupacchino, Wade Von Grawbadger & Norm Rapmund (Inkers), Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Dan Mora. 
RELEASED: February 21, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This is a comedic issue about a first (and presumably last) date between Supergirl and Robin. How comedic is it played? There’s an avalanche of bowling balls released from a truck into oncoming traffic. And it’s caused by a monkey.

As a point of trivia, I didn’t know Kara Zor-El and Dick Grayson were around the same age. I just naturally assumed she was younger than him.

Dan Mora is strictly on cover duty this month. But Lupacchino, Von Grawbadger, and Rapmund do a fine job. I’d be open to seeing more from them on this book.

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

A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #11 Micro-Review – Leave ‘Em Wanting More

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.***

Batman:Superman World's Finest 11, cover, January 2023, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #11
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: January 17, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Considering the cliffhanger we got last issue, this “Strange Visitor” storyline ends pretty abruptly here. It seemed like there might have been a lot more meat on the bone. Better to leave them wanting more, I suppose?

This issue borrows an idea from Superman II that I don’t know if we’ve ever seen in the comics. Certainly not in recent history…

Mora and Bonvillain get to work on some fairly obscure villains in this issue. Zebra-Man? Acid Master? Bag O’ Bones? Sure! Why not?

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

Batman – One Bad Day: Bane #1 Micro-Review – Doing Your Homework

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.***

Batman One Bad Day Bane 1, cover, January 2023, Howard Porter, Tomeu MoreyTITLE: Batman – One Bad Day: Bane #1
AUTHOR: Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Howard Porter, Tomeu Morey (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: January 17, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This story follows up on a classic Denny O’Neil story from the ’90s called “Venom.” I’ve had my issues with Williamson in recent months over Dark Crisis. But I’ve got to hand it to him on this one. He did his homework, and it paid off.

I was confused by something, though. There’s a villain in here called Grudge, and the story acts like we should know who he is. To the best of my recollection, I’ve never seen him before…

Somebody in this issue says, “No amount of venom can ever fix stupid.”

Words to live by, perhaps?

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

A Lazarus Planet: Alpha Micro-Review – Sexuality on Display

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.***

Lazarus Planet Alpha, cover, January 2023, David Marquez, Alejandro SanchezTITLE: Lazarus Planet: Alpha
AUTHORS: Mark Waid, Gene Luen Yang
ARTISTS: Riccardo Federici, Billy Tan, Brad Anderson (Colorist), Sebastian Cheng (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer), Janice Chiang (Letterer). Cover by David Marquez & Alejandro Sanchez.
RELEASED: January 10, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue is gorgeously drawn by Riccardo Federici. Perhaps too well drawn in the case of Power Girl. Her sexuality is very much on display in this issue, and it…pulled focus. I can’t decide if that’s Federici accentuating it, or if that’s just her costume.

Supergirl’s newer costume, however, is great. The Girl of Steel actually stole the issue for me when she got pissed at a minion and (literally) clapped back.

I can’t say I’m super invested in this Lazarus Planet stuff. But this issue piqued my interest enough to bring me back for at least one more issue.

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

A Detective Comics #1067 Micro-Review – The Kingdom of Cold

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.***

Detective Comics 1067, cover, December 2022, Evan CagleTITLE: Detective Comics #1067
AUTHORS: Ram V, Simon Spurrier
ARTISTS: Ivan Reis, Hayden Sherman, Danny Miki (Inker), Dave Stewart (Colorist), Nick Filardi (Colorist), Ariana Maher (Letterer), Steve Wands (Letterer). Cover by Evan Cagle.
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The overarcing villains for Ram V’s run on Detective Comics aren’t really landing with me. Unfortunately, I’m actually finding them a bit boring…

But on the plus side, he writes a great scene between Batman and Mr. Freeze that Ivan Reis absolutely knocks out of the park. We see what, to an extent, is Mr. Freeze’s Batcave. He calls it the “Kingdom of Cold.” Great stuff.

The Simon Spurrier/Hayden Sherman back-up starring Two-Face hasn’t landed with me either. They do, however, stick the landing as it ends this month. So there’s that.

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A Batman vs. Robin #4 Micro-Review – A Misleading Title

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.***

Batman vs Robin 4, cover, December 2022, Mahmud Asrar, Nathan FairbairnTITLE: Batman vs. Robin #4
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: Mahmud Asrar, Scott Godlewski, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Steve Wands (Letterer)
RELEASED: December 20, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Those bat ears on the Helmet of Fate look ridiculous. Just my opinion. But I’m right.

We do get a little character-driven scrap between Bruce and Damian in this issue. But ultimately, Batman vs. Robin isn’t really about Batman and Robin. It’s a misleading title in that sense. The story is really about setting the table for next month’s Lazarus Planet event comic. I can’t say I’m swayed one way or another at this point. Just feeling misled.

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