The TALKING COMICS Review Round-Up

Every week, the Talking Comics collective posts a mega-list of the comics they’re most excited to pull off the shelves that week. Check back here to see if the comics on the Pull List met the team’s expectations with reviews and quippy quotables!!! Click the links to go to full reviews and reflections!!!

This week’s contributors:

• Deanna Chapman (@deeechap)
• Bob Reyer (bobreyer@talkingcomicbooks.com)
• Max Mallet (@globetrottermax)
• Nathan Ryan (@Clown_Prince52)
• Lorna Maltman (maltmanlorna@gmail.com)
• Nate Mondschein (@33andMoonshine)
• Greg Brothers (@popculturegeek3)
• Matthew Iung (@iceo1000)

And lovingly edited by Joey Braccino (@joeybraccino)

New Comic Book Day – September 22, 2016

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DARK HORSE COMICS

Aliens: Life & Death #1 – By Dan Abnett & Moritat  

• Skip.  The first half of the book reads like a B-movie sci-fi battle sequence; complete with repeated “Nooooooo”s and mostly generic dialogue.  There’s virtually no substance for the entire first half of the issue.  If you have no prior knowledge of the Alien franchise, you’d be bored to tears.  One aspect the book should get credit for is having some LGBTQ representation in a sci-fi comic.  It’s a shame that the overall product isn’t polished and interesting.  –Max

Hellboy and the BPRD 1954 #1 – By Mike Mignola & Stephen Green

• Buy! It’s a gorgeous book and the story is exciting, funny, and mysterious. The reader gets an answer of substance for the smaller mystery that introduces us to this larger plot. It’s charming characters are very much like the X-Files or Fringe and if you are  looking for a satisfying sci-fi/paranormal book then hop on this one. It’s a two-parter, so your investment doesn’t have to go that far and it’s a good place to start if you’ve never read Hellboy or the BPRD. – Hernan

[Editor’s Note: For Hernan’s full review, click here!!!]

DC COMICS

Batman #7 (MONSTER MEN PART 1) – By Tom King & Riley Rossmo 

• Check it out. This event will not be for everyone, but for me this got off to a good start. Rossmo’s art works well, especially with the cyclops monster baby.  Overall if you were wanting some good old big monster action, you will not be disappointed. – Lorna

• Check it out. You really need to see for yourself if this crossover will be for you, and naturally, it makes sense to start with part one. Some people don’t like it when new writers take over on books they’ve been enjoying, and others don’t mind. I’ll likely follow along with it just because I’ve been keeping up with the Bat-family books. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. As someone who watches Gotham, a storyline with Hugo Strange will always pique my interest. – Deanna

[Editor’s Note: For Deanna’s full review of Batman #7, click here!!!]

• Wait and See. I had high hopes for this crossover event, and I wouldn’t say that I am disappointed but it’s not quite there yet for me. This might be an expectations vs. reality scenario for me. Nathan

• Buy. Maybe it’s just what Deanna said, and this is very much so the crossover event for me, but the combination of some really striking and unique artwork by Riley Rossmo and Ivan Plascencia with the steady emotional undercurrent of Batman’s struggle with a recent loss makes this much more than just your run of the mill, Big-Bad-Does-Something-Big-And-Bad event. I’m fully on board. It also doesn’t hurt that I’m already buying the involved titles… – Nate

Nightwing #5 (MONSTER MEN PART 2) – By Tim Seeley & Roge Antonia 

• Check it out. If you check out Batman #7 this week, you may as well continue with part two. It didn’t add a whole lot more to the story, we’ll likely get that next week with part three. The monsters alone are worth checking out. – Deanna

• Wait and See. My comments on Batman #7 are a direct reflection on this book as well, which is the second part of this event. Excited to see what the next chapter brings. Nathan

• Check it out. Wasn’t as sold on this issue, largely because I was so much more engaged by the art team on Batman #7, but still worth a read if you’re already along for the ride. – Nate

Cyborg #1 – By John Semper Jr. & Will Conrad 

• Buy. I enjoyed this issue thoroughly. We are really getting an opportunity to explore Victor as a person. There is a scene in a jazz bar where you get to see Victor experience the liveliness that music was able to make him feel. Nathan

Green Arrow #7 – By Ben Percy & Stephen Byrne

• Wait and See. This issue was fine, however it focused heavily on Emi. I don’t dislike the character, but I don’t want a whole issue to focus on her. I am much more interested in seeing Green Arrow and Black Canary on the same pages again. Until I get that again, I will continue to be annoyed. Nathan

Harley Quinn #4 – By Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner

• Buy.  I’m digging the globetrotting aspect of some of DC’s characters so early on in these new series.  Let’s just say that India will never be the same.  This one is a little bit more violent than I had anticipated, so it’s not exactly all-ages friendly.  But it’s definitely fun as hell.  — Max

• Buy. I wish that Ivy would have been in this issue heavily again, but that is my only complaint. This book was another wild ride and full of laughs. This is becoming one of my favorites every week. Nathan

Superman #7 – By Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason 

• Strong buy!  This is a slower, change of pace issue.  It gives great insight into Clark Kent trying to have a normal, non-Superhero day and the unique challenges therein as we kick off a new story arc.  I laughed out loud manically towards the end of the issue.  Thankfully, I was in the confines of my room.  This is an emotive, sweet, gorgeous book.  To quote issue #6, “Superman is for everyone!”  — Max

• Buy. This has been a fun run to read. It doesn’t just focus on Superman, but it also focuses his son who is coming into his abilities and the family in general. The facial expressions on Superman alone would be enough of a reason to read this book. I’m enjoying it way more than anticipated. – Deanna

• Buy. This was my favorite issue of this series so far. The Kent’s take a trip to the county fair! Absolutely hilarious and charming at the same time. Nathan

Trinity #1 – By Francis Manapul

• Check it out.  The art has some stunning pages, but also a couple of inconsistent ones.  Bruce is a little moodier than I’d like.  However, I enjoyed everything else about this book.  Diana and Jon are the stars of the show.  There are even a couple of Meta moments.  The action is very, very sparse, but that has been the case for the majority of Rebirth/#1s so far.  This issue is all about character moments and the DC Trinity operating with a new Superman at the helm.  — Max

[Editor’s Note: Click here for Max’s full review of Trinity #1, click here!!!]

• Buy. Honestly, buy this simply because Manapul was on the art and wrote it. There are some fun interactions between characters, and Wonder Woman/Diana is a highlight. After seeing Manapul’s work on The Flash, I’ll give anything he’s working on a shot. – Deanna

• Check it out. To have Clark, Bruce, and Diana in an issue sitting down for dinner is my idea of a fantastic book. It is way to early to tell what this book is going to be like but this issue took the perfect approach to lean into it. Nathan

• Buy. I’m a sucker for character study. Manapul delivers a wonderfully restrained introduction into a series that I think has the potential to add even greater depth to each of the Rebirth-era Trinity members, as well as to reinvigorate their interpersonal relationship in a way that will benefit everybody. In contrast to the rapid pace of many of these two-a-month Rebirth titles, it’s nice to have a book that’s willing to slow things down. Also, the art is absolutely stunning. – Nate

IDW PUBLISHING

Revolution #1 – By Cullen Bunn & John Barber and Fico Ossio 

• BUY! In Revolution #1 ,Bunn and Barber show in this first issue that they have the ability to take a large cast and boil it down to a very simple message with a very simple goal. If you have ever been looking to jump into any of these books then this is the perfect chance. There is enough there so that long time readers will not feel shorted, but not so much that new readers will feel overwhelmed. Moreover, if you are a child of the 80s and ever dreamed of a chance when you could see Roadblock fire a missile launcher at a Transformer then this is your chance. – Greg

[Editor’s Note: For Greg’s full review, click here!!!]

Star Trek-New Visions #12-by John Byrne

•  Must buy for ST:TOS fans!  This issue featured one of my favorite “episodes” of John Byrne’s photo-novel series, with the Enterprise encountering a massive fleet of alien spacecraft that is causing stars to age rapidly and go nova for purposes unknown. As did the best original series’ shows, while there is action and mystery, there are also great character moments that revolve around deeper philosophical constructs. Non-fans may not find as much to enjoy, but for me it’s another great piece of thoughtful science-fiction by the legendary Mr. Byrne.–Bob

IMAGE COMICS

Seven to Eternity #1 – By Rick Remender & Jerome Opena

• Buy. Remender and Opena have crafted a brilliant world here and I can’t wait to discover more about it. It doesn’t hold hands, but if you can get past that it is well with it.– Lorna

[Editor’s Note: For Lorna’s full review, click here!!!]

• Buy. What Lorna said. Be willing to dive in out of your depth. There’s going to be a wonderful payoff. – Nate

Wicked + Divine 1831 – By Kieron Gillen & Stephanie Hans 

• If you’re fan of historical fantasy and classic literature with a twist this book is for you even if you don’t read Wicked + Divine on the regular -Matt Iung

[Editor’s Note: For Matt’s full review, click here!!!]

MARVEL COMICS

Civil War II #5 (of 8) – By Brian Michael Bendis & David Marquez

• VERDICT: Buy if you’re already buying. You’re five issues in already, you might as well see it to the end. If not, wait for the trade collection to see how the new Marvel status quo is reached. – John Burkle

[Editor’s Note: For John’s full review, click here!!!]

Karnak #5 – By Warren Ellis, Roland Boschi and Dan Brown

• Trade-Wait: It’s too late for me, but if you’ve managed (like most people) to avoid this series so far, keep doing what you’re doing. I’m not sure how much of my frustration here is the delays and how much is a rapidly devolving plot, but this issue just doesn’t give enough to warrant buying independently. I have plenty of faith in Ellis’ ability to tie things together and make good on the promise of a phenomenal start, but it just doesn’t feel worthwhile following along through the whole process in real time. – Nate

The Vision #11 – By Tom King, Gabiel Hernandez Walta and Jordie Bellaire:

• Verdict: BUY! Buy a copy for yourself. Buy a copy for your kids. Buy a copy for your parents. Buy a copy for your friends. Buy a copy for you pets. King and Walta and Bellaire are doing something with this comic that we will be talking about for many years to come. – Nate

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And that’s our Pull List for this week!!! If you happen to pick up any of these books, please join the conversation here or on twitter and let us know what you think! As we update the site with reviews and verdicts on these comics, we’d love to include your input!

#READCOMICS