Deathstroke #6 Review

The name is Deathstroke and during the last few issues he's been accompanied by none other than Harley Quin. As we pick up at the beginning of issue 6, Harley Quinn and Deathstroke are on their way to confront Deathstroke's father.  Odysseus has Deathstroke's daughter, Rose Wilson, captured and is trying to persuade her to come to his side when Deathstroke and Harley Quinn make the save.

Tony Daniel has done an excellent job on creating eye capturing covers and you can see from the image above that issue six is no different.  You see a defeated Deathstroke who has fallen victim to Odysseus.  Deathstroke comics ares a regular pick-up for me, but the very first time I saw it in the comic shop, it was the amazing cover art that grabbed my attention immediately.  The inside of the issue is no different than the cover and it is incredibly well done.  I really like how Harley Quinn is drawn and portrayed in the Deathstroke comics.  She's not too cartoony as some others series have done.  Deathstroke is well defined and his armor is impressive.  The action scenes are drawn with great detail and you can tell what is happening with ease.  The action is incredibly violent.  Blood is abundant, I mean, we start the issue with a talking head.  While I love passing comics to my son to read, this is one that you probably don't want to hand over to a child.

The one weak point that can be overlooked is that some of the dialogue isn't the greatest. The reason I say the dialogue is questionable is that Deathstroke quotes Hamlet, which seems pretty out of character for him. Honestly, it's a pretty minor complaint.  Some people have had issues with Harley Quinn's dialogue in this. Personally, I don't see an issue with her dialogue at all.  She's not over the top, and she's not outright insane like in some other issues.      

Without giving too much away, the ending was great.  It sets up perfectly for the next story arc, Godkiller. Unfortunately, we all have to wait until June to find out what happens next.

The Deathstroke series has been an excellent read so far.  I highly recommend picking it up if you want good action and a serious comic series to read.  If you're sensitive to extreme violence or you're looking for something to share with your kid, you might want to skip this one.  However if you love violence, then this is most likely right up your alley.   

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Batgirl #40 Review

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.  Those are the first words I thought of when I saw the cover for “Batgirl” this week.  As a big fan of Prince and Purple Rain, this was a must have the second I saw it.  I bet some of you are saying, why are you doing a review based on the cover?  Well...because I can that's why!  Just kidding everyone, there is no need to click that little X in the corner.  Just stay right here and keep reading.

Batgirl 40 begins with Batgirl facing off against a computerized darker version of herself. Said darker version of Batgirl is a result of a computer program that she was working on while recuperating from her injury, inflicted upon her by The Joker.  This digital version of Barbara has been corrupted by her own anger at what has happened to her.  Riot Black makes an appearance as an enforcer for the corrupted version of Batgirl.  His inclusion in the issue is brief, and fits in nicely. When Batgirl discovers the her corrupted version plans to kill residents of Gotham who may have become criminals or have criminal connections later in life,  Batgirl is able to free herself.

This issue is action packed and reads incredibly quickly.  The issue passes quickly because it really never stops, which I happen to love. Constant action, no areas of distraction and or boredom from a lull in action.. This issue is done in such a way that you never get tired of what's going on.  The dialogue is fun and written in a way that expresses the writer's deep comprehension of the characters for whom they write. Personally, I think this is really refreshing because there are instances in which writers don't seem to understand or have a grasp on their characters.  

The art is great in this issue.  The corrupted Barbara is drawn to portray a static image, which fits very nicely for a character who is on the edge and unstable, as readers learn when the story unfolds.  The emotion is portrayed through subtle changes in the color in the flashback panels.  

I walked in not expecting a whole lot from this issue as I picked up on a whim solely based on the cover's reminiscence of Purple Rain. However, it was an enjoyable read and the art really looked phenomenal.  If you're a Prince fan like me and want to pick this up for the novelty, go for it.  Take a read through the pages once you get home, and I have a feeling you'll enjoy it.  And even if you aren't a fan of Prince, I suggest you go ahead and pick it up. It really is a fun read that is executed incredibly well.

Pick it up right now!

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Marvel Select: Cable

X-Force fans can finally rejoice this week. The new Marvel Select Cable from Diamond Select was released this week.  Cable has already had a few figures made, but he's definitely been on the short end of the stick for figures, especially considering that he was incredibly popular during the 90s and has been featured in several runs during the last ten years.  

So now that he has his own Select figure what is it like?  It looks great.  The detail that was put into Cable is spectacular.  Cable's vest and the additional grenades are done well.  Cable's techno-organic arm looks great.  Cable's face has the familiar scowl and his techno-organic eye though unfortunately his eye isn't well defined.  It's incredibly small which makes it disappointing because his eye tends to stand out in the comics.  I feel like the eye does detract a bit from the overall awesomeness of the figure.

The articulation is a little disappointing as well but the vest is a problem.  It's huge, which cuts down on his shoulder movement. Elbow to shoulder you have limited movement, however, from the elbows down, there are no movement problems at all. The loss of upper arm movement is a problem from a posing standpoint.  The legs don't share the same issues as the arms. They're not held back by any limitations at all, in fact Cable can even do the splits should you feel the need to pose him like that.  

Cable comes with five guns and one knife.  He has three holsters to carry two guns and one knife, which is attached to his back.  The weapons look great and Cable would be proud to have so many readily available at his disposal.  They attach without too many issues once you figure out how to manipulate the hands and figures.  The larger gun has an issue with how far it goes back.  Once again the vest becomes an issue because the larger gun sort of runs into Cable's vest. However, the wrists are able to twist so you can sort of get around it.

I really want to love this figure because I'm a huge fan of Cable and I've been looking forward to this release for months.  Don't get me wrong, I do like it...but I don't love it.  The vest takes so much potential away from this figure.  It reduces the amount of poses that the figure can do.  It's far too bulky and restricts a large amount of movement that could be possible.  Also, I really wish they had a better job with Cable's eyes.  There just isn't enough detail in the eyes for my liking.  

Still, I would recommend this figure to fans of Cable and X-Force. Despite the criticisms it really does look pretty awesome. Obviously you aren't going to get the detail that higher end action figures have, though I really wish that they had put in a little more effort in the painting of Cable's eye and in doing some testing with Cable's arms.  Really these two issues are the only negatives of this figure.

 

Southern Cross #1: Review

New from Image Comics this week is “Southern Cross.”  In the beginning, we find lead character Alex Braith traveling to the moon, Titan.  She is traveling aboard the Southern Cross in an attempt to bring back her dead sister, Amber.  So, immediately this series begins with a bit of a mystery.  We find out that Alex is the rebel and that her sister, Amber, is the good one.  Somewhat of a cliched storyline, but we'll run with it for now.  

This plot and storyline have certainly been told before and the question for this series becomes, how will the story be told?  Will the characters be fresh and pull you into the story? Unfortunately, that just doesn't happen here.  Alex isn't the most personable character and doesn't exactly interact well with the other characters that are introduced in this issue.  She's very stand-offish and cold. While you understand her desire to know what happened to her sister, there is nothing else that is you can relate to with her character. We do discover that she had some issues on Earth, but nothing is explained further.  It's like the writers drop a seed and seem to forget that it was mentioned.  The inner dialogue is dry and doesn't pull do anything to make you want to know more about the character, except to find out what happened to her sister, Amber.

Overall, the art is decent in this issue.  The drawing of the ship and the loading of the ship is impressive, those aspects really are well done. There are some other scenes with the Gravity Well that look pretty awesome as well. As a whole, the colors are VERY dark throughout the issue, but the coloring does match the general feeling and atmosphere of the issue. The storyline is dark and the colors reflect that well. There is a scene where Alex shuts her door on her neighbor and with the way the door is closing it looks like the neighbor should be pulling his arm through the door but the panel doesn't portray that very well.  Instead, it looks like he was just placed there and the scene was drawn around him.  Scenes like that add to the overall lack of emotion that permeates throughout this issue.

As a whole, I think that “Southern Cross” is a decent first issue that is off to a precarious start. I'm left wondering is whether or not future episodes will make this series a compelling read?

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

All New Hawkeye #1: Review

Debuting in comic shops this week is the “All New Hawkeye” Issue 1.  I hear you asking now, what about “Hawkeye” 22?  Well that's a good question that I don't have an answer for.  I know personally I loved the Hawkeye series that was brought to us by Matt Fraction.  It was really great and yet here we are starting with Hawkeye all over again.  Oh Marvel, what are you doing to us?  

I thought I'd do a review of “Hawkeye” since we just got the third and probably final trailer for “The Avengers 2: Age of Ultron.”  I don't think I'm alone here, but shut up and take my money, and why isn't it May yet?  

This series seems to be the spiritual successor to Matt Fraction's series.  For me, this first issue was just as enjoyable as Hawkeye 22.  The sarcastic humor wasn't quite the same, but there definitely was humor in this issue.  Not the kind of humor that makes you laugh out loud, but certainly a smiling to yourself kind of funny, at least that was my experience.  Considering the side story and the end, the subject matter was relatively light.  Clint Barton and Katie Bishop are fighting their way through a Hydra base for S.H.I.E.L.D.  They are searching for secret weapons that were supposed to be located on the base. However, they aren't too happy with their mission since they aren't able to find the weapons.

In between the action, we get an origin story of sorts.  We are given a picture of a young Clint and Barney Barton in their foster home in Iowa...score one for my home state!  The art displayed during these flashbacks is done quite well.  It really feels as though you are watching a flashback scene from a movie and it's like a dreamlike sequence to these scenes.  Later in the issue, a bloody red coloring is used to symbolize the child abuse taking place inside of the house.  For me, as a father, I thought this was a really great way to show the brutality without actually depicting a child being beaten.  

In the “now” panels, you get the same type of art that would be familiar to anyone who was a fan of the earlier “Hawkeye” series.  This art was well done and it really pulls the reader into the actions.  The colors are very vivid and the attention to detail is spectacular.  

Some people might be hesitant to pick this up, especially those who loved Fraction's series.  I have to admit that I was pretty unsure about getting this, but you won't disappointed if you take a chance and get it. I have to say that this issue was a lot of fun and I'll definitely be picking issue number two up in April.

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

Suiciders #1 Review

Vertigo's “Suiciders” starts off in an interesting way.  The main character, The Saint, knelt before a large statue of the scourged Jesus on the cross.  “Suiciders” is a comic series that occurs in a dystopian society, thirty years after the “big one” hit Los Angeles.  Los Angeles is now known as New Angeles and is separated by a large wall keeping half of the remaining living population out.

The story revolves around the character “The Saint” who participates in a blood sport like show that is known as “Suiciders.”   Just like the other participants, The Saint is surgically enhanced and on performance enhacing drugs.  In addition to having to face each other, the coliseum where “Suiciders” takes place is filled with additional weapons and obstacles that serve to increase the level of danger faced by the participants.  In this first issue, we don't get much a feel for the character of The Saint, other than the fact that he doesn't exactly live up to his name.  At least, his opinion of the people on the other side of the wall certainly wouldn't win him any humanity awards.

The other half of this issue revolves around the smuggling of people from the other side of the wall into New Angeles, and the two police officers patrolling the wall.  It is here that the reader gets a sense of the motivation for deciding who would stay beyond the wall. The exact thought process is pretty nebulous, so it's hard to say without any confidence how they make these decisions, but I think that seeing more during the duration of this series will help to reveal why people are on either side of the wall. Based upon what I've seen so far, the make-up of New Angeles seems to be upper class individuals, while those beyond the wall are the less fortunate.  It's unknown at this point if the smugglers are going to be in the story more often, or they are only here to show us the underside of this society.

I liked the story so far and I'm definitely curious to see where this goes and what happens with The Saint.  I also want to see more of New Angeles and what society is really like after the “big one.”  This issue was laid out well and leaves the reader wanting to know more.  Hopefully the story keeps evolving and we discover more about how this society really operates.  Learning a little more about The Saint's background and motivations will help keep the story moving as well, since that is one thing that readers are left questioning.  My impression of this character is that he enjoys what he does, but beyond his interactions with other characters, I can't really say that as readers we don't learn much about him.

Lee Bermejo, who wrote this issue, was also the artist and truly did a wonderful job on the artwork.  It's dark and shadowy, which really enhances the darker theme of the issue.  The action scenes are good even if they are limited in their display.  The violence is intense and extremely graphic and this series is definitely not for little kids or those opposed to violence. But, you'd think that the title “Suiciders” would dissuade those who don't want to read about violence in the first place.  

Overall this isn't on my must pick up list.  I'll definitely pick up the next few issues to see where this goes and it really wasn't bad at all.  I enjoyed it the issue because the writing was good and the art was great.  Overall though, this just didn't grab me completely.

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

Divinity 1: Review

Valiant Entertainment brings us the new release of the book “Divinity” this Wednesday. This series is done by Trevor Hairsine and Matt Kindt.  I have to admit that from the first issue, it really shows a great deal of promise.  

The series revolves around Abram Adams, who was abandoned on a doorstep as a baby in Soviet Russia. I know the abandoned baby thing is kind of cliché, but it works here. As an orphan, Abram Adams ends up being raised by the state and is recognized as a particularly brilliant individual early in his life. As he is being trained to be a Cosmonaut for the U.S.S.R., he is chosen for a special mission that will take him to the very edge of the galaxy. This issue, while divulging some pertinent information, does leave room for character development where Abram is concerned.  Readers do learn a fair bit about Abram from an unknown character and readers glean information through Abram's interactions with some of the characters.  As a reader, you are able to understand his motives and it is easy to relate to this character.

Also in this issue, a second character is introduced named, David Camp...or is it supposed to be Camp David?  His introduction is made to readers with the re-appearance of Abram Adams, who has not changed at all, with the small exception of new superpowers.  In this issue, readers are not told too much about David Camp. Rather, we learn that Abram Adams has returned from his mission and is being tracked by either government agents or private contractors.

The art is particularly well done and I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning scenes of Abram looking back at the footsteps that left him when he was just an infant.  We are given panels of Abram at school and daydreaming during his studies that are all vivid and incredibly well done.  We are easily able to see the emotions artfully portrayed on the faces of the characters and even the more surrealistic aspects are brilliantly done.

This first issue will leave you with a lot of questions and I think that this is truly a GREAT thing to do here.  Not all questions need to be answered immediately.  Where the story leads for Abram is anyone's guess, but what I do know is that this series will definitely be worth reading to find out.

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

Ant-Man Issue 2 Review

Scott Lang, alias Ant-Man, is the star of the new Ant-Man series.  This certainly makes sense as Marvel is releasing an Ant-Man movie this summer.  When we last left Ant-Man, he had turned down an offer of a new career from Tony Stark in order to be a better father. In this issue, he's busy trying to convince a bank to give him a loan so that he can start his own security company. However, his attempts seem to be in vain with the bank executives refusing to even listen to Scott's proposal. It is at this point that things get a little hairy for our hero.  He's disabled the security systems and the vaults in the bank in an attempt to show them just how easy it is break into their bank. Doing so creates a major problem when a huge MidasBot is activated and starts wreak havoc in the bank.  

The first two issues of the newest Ant-Man series have been light-hearted and full of humor that is somewhat silly and incredibly sarcastic. The humor, and the sarcasm, are part of why I am really enjoying this series so far.  The humor allows you to sit back, relax and enjoy the issue without having to think about existential issues or good versus evil; in fact you don't need to have any real thought at all.  It's really refreshing to read a series that is frivolous and isn't all doom and gloom.  The fact that Scott Lang keeps the Ant-Man costume on at ALL times is an added bonus.  He's seen outside walking with his daughter in the costume or having a sit down with Bear-Man, clearly this is a series that doesn't take it's self too seriously.

A major theme with this issue is Ant-Man's role as a father.  I hope that some of us comic book fans who are fathers, can relate to his concerns.  He is written as a sympathetic father who obviously cares deeply for his daughter. As a father, it is awesome to read a series with a super hero that strives to be a genuinely good father with everything he does being for the benefit of his daughter.

If you're on the fence about the new Ant-Man series, I think you might want to check this out.  This is a really great series for those who are looking for something light as opposed to serious and has a focus on family, which is cool for us comic book fan parents.

 

What do you think? Have you added this new Ant-Man series to your weekly pickups?

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

The Dying & The Dead #1

I picked up “The Dying and The Dead” today at my local comic store.  The guy at the counter recommended it along with several others, so I picked this one up to see what it was all about.  Jonathan Hickman is the writer behind this new series. This issue contains 60 pages, though it certainly doesn't feel that long.  The story progresses quickly and provides the reader with enough information to always know what is happening.  

The issue starts out with a cryptic, violent wedding sequence and an inner dialogue about relationships.  The opening was done perfectly.  It was poignant and brought about just the right amount of violence without going too far.  After that we meet the protagonist of the story, the Colonel, a man who is watching his wife die from cancer.  The story gets interesting, and visually breathtaking, when we learns that the cancer is terminal and we are introduced to a representative of an ancient race.  The Colonel is is taken to The City, where this ancient race exists.  The City is incredibly impressive and the art in this particular part of the story is absolutely amazing.

There's nothing too deep about the story, but there is enough there to be thought provoking.  There is dialogue that covers the Abrahamic religions and older mythology.  Colonel's interaction with these beings is short and terse and they seem to speak to him in a condescending or dismissive tone.  They don't seem to hold back where the Colonel is concerned and even go so far as to offer him a way out.  One character, The Bishop, and the Colonel have met but we aren't privy to too much of their past interaction.  Bishop offers The Colonel a deal and with this offering, the future of the story begins.

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

Batman #38

Jim Gordon is insane and Gotham is alive with laughter.  Far from being jovial, this laughter is tearing the city apart.  It is no longer fun and games for The Joker as Batman tries to stop the virus that is wreaking havoc on Gotham.

Batman issue 38 is part four in the Endgame story arc.  It begins with Batman going to find Jim Gordon. The city is littered with the people of Gotham tearing the city, and each other, apart.  Greg Capullo demonstrates his extreme skill as an artist at this point by portraying every individual with an impressive, and unique, deranged face.  Most followers of the Batman book are familiar with Greg Capullo's artwork and once again the artwork truly stands out in this issue.  All of people in the background are just as creepy as The Joker comes across in this arc.  

The writing might be dry and a bit boring for some.  If you haven't picked up any of the other issues, you might find it hard to follow the dialogue on the virus.  The majority of this issue is devoted to Batman discussing the semantics of the virus and what it is doing to the population of Gotham.  Batman shows his detective abilities here as he's trying to reason his way to find a way to help out the people of Gotham.  

What I enjoyed most in this issue was the discussion with Dr. Dekker about the origins of the virus and Dr. Dekker's tales of ancient Earth.  The story takes on almost metaphysical level here with the mentions of the Lazarus pit and yet another Joker origin story.  I'll keep this spoiler free, but it's worth checking out if you're a fan of The Clown Prince of Crime.  Joker origin stories can usually be taken with a grain of salt.  We've read plenty of them throughout the years.

Five panels towards the end of the issue that left me puzzled, though not in a bad or frustrated way. Rather, I found myself wondering what direction this series will take from this point.  My interest is definitely piqued for the next issue and I am eager to discover what Joker has planned.  How far will Batman go to stop The Joker and will Gotham be able to survive this virus?

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

Living The Nerd Life! January GIVEAWAY!

January Giveaway!

This month we're giving away a sweet Marvel T-shirts (size medium), 2 Walking Dead Funk Pop Minis figures and The Walking Dead 100 Project Book.

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A winner will be picked on Feb. 6th!

Remember all you have to do is Like the page and like the video/post promoting it.

Magneto

The “Master of Magnetism” is back on Genosha for Magneto issue 14.  After the events of AXIS, Magneto's fears have been given significant attention. He has returned to the place where he's experienced both his greatest triumphs and tragedies. Unfortunately, S.H.I.E.L.D has Magneto surrounded, but Magneto is always a step ahead.

S.H.I.E.L.D is coming into Genosha's airspace with Magneto standing around the ruins of Genosha. Magneto tells a young mutant to run and hide while he prepares for S.H.I.E.L.D.  This action leads to a flashback of the Sentinel assault, that killed 150 million mutants, on Genosha. Once the flashback concludes, we see Agent Hines preparing her team to capture Magneto. At this point, Magneto starts to wield his power and inflicts some serious damage to S.H.I.E.L.D forces. From here, we are taken into another flashback, this time it is of the aftermath of the Sentinel attack.

This issue is short on text, but heavy in emotion. Cullen Bunn has done an excellent job not only writing this issue, but also writing Magneto period. Magneto is a character who has been a villain and a hero, with most recognizing him in the villain role. In this complex issue, he is walking a VERY fine line between the two spectrums. He defends Genosha and he does it for his people; he's clearly on the offensive during this issue. And as readers that have prior knowledge of what happened to Genosha and of Magneto's past, his reasoning is completely defensible. It is this empathy for Magneto that Cullen Bunn evokes impeccably with the character of Magneto. As a reader you not only understand and have an appreciation of Magneto's view of the world and Mutantkind, but you also feel compassion for him.

Even though the text is a bit on the short side, the story progresses without any issues.  Magneto's inner dialogue drives the story into and through the action panels. Magneto is written without any thrills and straight to the point, which works well for his character.  I will say that the ending was great. I won't post any spoilers, but I certainly didn't see it coming and I'm already looking forward to next month's edition. It is this anticipation and excitement that a good writer hopes to accomplish: tell a great story and leave them hungry for more.

If you have been on the sidelines with picking up Magneto, I suggest grabbing this issue and possibly even going back and reading the previous issues. I'm pretty certain that you'll be glad you picked this one up.

What are you currently reading? Did you pull this week's Magneto too?

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201  

The Joker Arkham Origins by Play Arts Kai

The Joker Arkham Origins Play Arts Kai Figure was released this month. Square Enix made this figure that takes inspiration from the Arkham Origins game of 2013.

This Joker figure stands at 11 inches tall and is really well proportioned. If you have prior experience with Play Arts Kai figures, you know how well they are made. The Joker figure looks incredible in the packaging and it only gets better once removed from the package, assuming, of course, that you intend to open the figure and display it. By "display," I really mean occasionally taking humorous pictures of them like I do with my figures. If you prefer to leave the figure in the box, it comes with a flap that opens up so you are still able to display the figure.

All Play Arts figures come with a stand, though in the case of the Joker figure it is unnecessary. However, the stand does come in handy when leaving the figure out for display if you are worried about it falling over when left on it's own. I honestly didn't have any issues at all displaying the figure without the stand, and even though I didn't use it, it's a quality stand made of a clear plastic that holds the figure perfectly.  

The figure comes with two additional hands, a head, a gun and a knife. On the Joker figure is the standard smiling Joker face and included in the package is a more stern, sinister looking face. Both look great when added to the figure. The paint job and sculpt is impeccably done on this figure, though I do have a complaint and it's incredibly minor: the smiling Joker face ha a little red paint on the jaw. Honestly, this could just be my specific figure or it could be done by design. To me, it looks a bit off, but it doesn't take anything away from the figure. The head has excellent movement as well and you can swivel from side to side and look down without any issues.

The hands come with a set of closed fists and two different sets one which is used for carrying weapons. The weapons are easy to place in the hands and don't fall off easily, which is one of the main things that I lover about this figure. When I slide the knife into The Joker's hand, I know it is going to stay (which helps when taking hilarious pictures). With other figures, it can be a challenge to keep weapons or other additions in a figure's hands, but this is absolutely not the case with this one. The knife and the gun look great and are incredibly well made. The gun looks little large compared to the rest of the figure, though this is The Joker and he's known for being over the top.

The hands and the head are easy to swap out. It can be kind of intimidating to remove the additional pieces for fear of breaking something, but I find that the figure is built so sturdily that it withstands swapping out of the parts easily. There are joints on the back of the coat that can be arrangeed so that the coat appears to be flapping in the wind, which I really think improves the displaying (and photo taking) possibilities.

Overall, I think this figure is great. Especially for the price. It'll run you around $100 which is steep, but if you ccompare it to the Hot Toys line which run well over $200, it's a good buy. For fans of The Joker and Batman this figure will make an exccellent addition to your collection.

Posted by: Jeff @jeff201

New Suicide Squad: Issue 6

What happens when you throw in an army of genetically engineered beings, China and a group of convicts in a lab? Not sure? The answer is you have issue number six of the "New Suicide Squad." The last issue left off with Harley Quinn setting off the alarm and unwittingly letting out the genetically engineered beings. 

The promotion for the heavily featured Harley Quinn issue is actually pretty deceptive, so for those of you who are hardcore Harley Quinn fans, prepare for potential disappointment. The members of the Suicide Squad are given equal footing in the issue, with the exception of Man-Bats, who provides some late issue distraction for the team when they need it most.

The issue revolves around the team fighting off the army of genetically engineeredd beings. Reverse Flash took up the bulk of the panels trying to grab as many bombs as he could, at least until his knee seemed to go out on him with the rest of the team being overwhelmed. The interaction between the team was limited, and the issue featured, and revolved around, the actions of the Suicide Squad. 

For me, where the issue dragged was places in which the Suicide Squad handlers were featured. The dialogue was dry, and with the exception of Victor Sage being approached in the bar, it didn't really lead anywhere or give an indication of a potential future storyline. In order to effectively advancce the storyline, you need dialogue and that dialogue should have meaning. In this particular issue, I really felt like the dialogue was just there to provide a break from the action.

The issue ends in a spectacular blast, an angry man, and a promise of revenge. Will we see another member fall? What will Sage do? 

You won't find anything Earth shattering in this issue of Suicide Squad, though I guess that's expected with Suicide Squad. If by chance you're reading anything by this team, you're probably expecting violence and very little else. You have some deccent action in this issue, but I wouldn't say that it's an absolute must-grab either. In all honesty, I put this issue down feeling a little disappointed in it's overall execution. Unfortunately, it seems that DC is still stuck on giving us a mediocre issues for the Suicide Squad. You would think that with a movie coming out next year, DC would want to create as much buzz and excitement as possible. Everything could be leading up to some great issues, but sadly it's just not happening yet.  

Posted by: Jeff