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!!!

Also, check out our weekly Favorite Comic Book Covers of the Week column for more coverage of last week’s new books!

This week’s contributors:

• Jesse Bowden (@JesseBowden)
• Huw Parry (@h_paz)
• Deanna Chapman (@deeechap)
• John Dubrawa (@thisjohnd)
• Bob Reyer (bobreyer@talkingcomicbooks.com)
• Max Mallet (@globetrottermax)
• Nathan Ryan (@Clown_Prince52)
• Vivek Kembaiyan (@just_Vivek)
• Hernan Guarderas (@hguarderas93)
• Lorna Maltman (maltmanlorna@gmail.com)
• Nate Mondschein (@33andMoonshine)
• Greg Brothers (@popculturegeek3)
• Matthew Iung (@iceo1000)
• Miguel Canales-Holler (@Beefsandwich28)

And lovingly edited by Joey Braccino (@joeybraccino)

New Comic Book Day – October 12th, 2016

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BOOM! STUDIOS

Warlords of Appalachia #1 – Phillip Kennedy Johnson & Jonas Scharf

• Wait and See! I think that if done right the series has a ton on potential. Quite a few elements were touched on in this first issue so there will be plenty to work with moving forward. My concern is if they introduced and moved forward to fast in this first issue. To go from being a quiet mechanic, to getting ready to fight the military is a big jump to make. I wonder if some more lead up to that would have helped the reader understand the deeper conflicts between these groups. The second issue could go a long way in telling the reader where we are going next, while unpacking some of the mysteries that were touched on in Warlords of Appalachia #1. – Greg

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

DARK HORSE COMICS

Chimichanga: Sorrow of the World’s Worst Face #1 – Eric Powell & Stephanie Buscema 

• Check It Out? I’m not sure who this book is for but it’s kind of brilliant in a madcap, Saturday-morning-cartoon sort of way. While not exactly a children’s story, it does try and teach an important lesson about loving who you are and not taking any guff from society’s standards of beauty (all set inside a freak show carnival), but then takes a sharp left turn into a quasi-revenge tale toward the end. If anything, it’s a story definitely worth looking at once it comes to trade, but the first issue is an exciting–albeit too short, content-wise–little diversion for your Wednesday. –John D.

Briggs Land #3 – Brian Wood & Mack Chater

• Buy.  This was over before I knew it.  That’s because the storytelling feels effortless and is enjoyable to read.  If you’re jonesing for a grounded, real-world-feel comic of the darker variety, you should give Briggs Land a shot.  —Max

DC COMICS

Deathstroke #4 – Christopher Priest & Joe Bennett

• By this point, it’s clear that Chris Priest and Joe Bennett have no intention of backing down from their left-of-center, disjointed, high concept take on The Terminator, which is great news if your taste in comics is anything like mine (which is to say, BUY!). But there’s a decent chance that they corner they’ve cornered is not your kind of corner, then Keep Steering Clear! – Nate M.
• Buy.  I’m with Nate 100%.  I can see why readers wouldn’t want to consume this story, but I’m enjoying it quite a bit as of late.  It’s smarter than the average capes-and-cowls story, so if that’s  your thing, then you’ll enjoy it.  If it’s not, or if you’re a-political, then you’ll probably want to steer clear.  -Max

• Buy. This book keeps getting better to me, as this issue was my favorite yet. The nature of how this story is being fed to us is growing on me. So far this has been my favorite Deathstroke arc that I have ever read. I am looking forward to more, but like Max and Nate, realize that this isn’t for everyone. Nathan

Detective Comics #942 (NIGHT OF THE MONSTER MEN – FINALE) – James Tynion IV & Steve Orlando and Andy Macdonald

• Verdict: What you see is what you get, so if a Kaiju-style showdown in Gotham is up your alley, Night Of The Monster Men is definitely worth a read. But don’t let the earliest issues fool you into expecting much else. – Nate M

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

• Buy. This was a satisfying conclusion to this crossover. Nate is right. It is what it is, but if you have read the rest of this you need to read the finale. For me, it didn’t live up to expectations but the ending was solid and overall it was a decent little event. The best part, it was in and out very quickly, gave the regular creative teams a chance to catch up and keep quality work humming without being disruptive. Nathan

• Buy. If you’ve followed along with the first 5 issues of this crossover, definitely pick this up. It’s fitting for October with Halloween coming up, and if you dig monsters, it’s worth your time. – Deanna

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #6 – Robert Venditti & Rafael Sandoval

• Check it out.  This issue leads directly into a highly anticipated conflict.  The only reason this isn’t a straight ‘buy’ is because of some corny Hal Jordan dialogue that feels a little lazy.  Other than that, I’m enjoying this run as much as any other DC series not named Superman or Wonder Woman.  -Max

Red Hood and the Outlaws #3 – By Scott Lobdell & Dexter Soy

• I’m out, but… It depends on your flavor.  Red Hood, Artemis and Bizarro seems like a forced team-up — although Lobdell does a pretty decent job at showing why Jason would feel a connection to Bizarro.  I don’t find the writing and story interesting enough to override the fact that this series feels like the comic equivalent of a B-list heroes team-up.  The art is pretty good, with the exception of Black Mask’s aesthetic.  He looks like he belongs in the film Eyes Wide Shut, not in a mainstream super-hero comic book; it’s incredibly distracting.  -Max

• I’m still in, but… I couldn’t blame anyone for cutting this book. It has been on my watch list of potential cuts from the jump. I wanted to see what this book would be like once Bizarro was in the fold. We got glimpses of this in this issue, but it might be another issue or two before these three are functioning as an actual team. Nathan

Wonder Woman #8 – Greg Rucka & Bilquis Evely 

•       *BUY….of course! This was less an origin of The Cheetah than an exploration of the   character of Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva, and the issue was glorious for having taken that tack.Greg Rucka brings us the story of woman whose early life belies where it has now taken her, and Ms. Evely’s art brings out every subtlety of the journey.–Bob
• Bob is right on the money.  As someone who doesn’t have a tremendous depth of knowledge about the Amazon Princess and her peripheral characters, I enjoyed the dive into Dr. Minerva’s past.  It was a change of pace, but not an unwelcome one.  Rucka’s writing had me quickly rooting for a character that I don’t know a whole lot about, and that’s a testament to his skill as a wordsmith and storysmith.  -Max

Supergirl #2 – Steve Orlando & Brian Ching

• Check it out.  It’s still early in this run’s lifespan, so if you’re a Supergirl fan then you don’t have much catching up to do if you aren’t on board yet.  This art isn’t my favorite kind, but I’m generally enjoying the story.  I’m not over the moon for Supergirl, but I’m willing to stay on board to see if the story becomes great.  –Max

• I agree with Max. Orlando seems to understand Supergirl, but it seems it will take a while for things to get going in this series. – Lorna

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

• Check it out. If you like some snarky Cat Grant, you’ll love this issue. We’re also starting to see a bit more of Kara and her struggles with being on Earth. The art is a little rough around the edges, but not so much so that it detracts from what Orlando is doing with the story. – Deanna

• Check it out. I actually really like Brian Ching’s art in this series. This issue isn’t as great as the first one, but I’m going to stick with it. As someone who didn’t read Supergirl in the 52, I appreciated that this issue gave us some context about Cyborg Superman. – Vivek

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

James Bond Hammerhead #1 – Andy Diggle & Luca Casalanguida

• Wait and see.  There are glimpses of great stuff in here, but ultimately the art and writing is too inconsistent to make me recommend this take on 007 with any enthusiasm.  The story is unfortunately pretty generic, as well.  If you’ve seen a Bond film, there’s nothing new here for you.  —Max

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

IMAGE COMICS

Black Light District: 6 Issues – Written by Jesse Blaze Snider and Will Knox

• Buy. Whether it’s the comic or the EP, Buy. With Six different messages to convey its going to be hard not to connect with at least one of them. All of that and more is why this is highly recommended to art lovers music lovers and comic lovers alike. Theses stories and songs were made for this purpose and are the complete package. It is so rare that something that had this much work and love poured into only cost $3.99. If you don’t have the money or don’t want to take the chance go listen the music. While it can be purchased it’s also free if you go to the website and the motion comic music videos are on Youtube if you just want to hear Snider’s sound. The links will be down below if anyone wants to experience the tremendous amount of content that Black Light District 6 Issues has to offer. – Matthew

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

Glitterbomb #2 – Jim Zub & Djibril Morissette-Phan

• Buy. While not as shocking as the first issue, Glitterbomb continues to be the kind of comic perfect for this season of horrific delights. Farrah’s actions from the first issue are only the beginning, it seems, and it’s only a matter of time before whatever is inside of her comes out for good. You may not know you’re looking for a book that mixes horror with Hollywood satire but trust me, so far Glitterbomb is worth buying. –John D.

Reborn #1 – Mark Millar & Greg Capullo 

• BUY. As if there was any doubt Mark MIllar and Greg Capullo would create a first issue worth buying, come on. This high-concept science fiction story works as a terrific first issue that does just enough world-building as to not make it a confusing read, but leaves enough questions to be answered for future issues that I definitely will be back for. Capullo’s art, unsurprisingly, is just as magnificent as when we last left him on the pages of Batman. Even without drawing capes and cowls, his figures are larger than life. –John D.

• Check it out. We’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out where this is going, but there’s a lot of promise here. Family, the purpose of life, and of course mortality, are all themes that are hinted at heavily in this first issue. And  it looks like there will be a lot of action in the series’ future. As John said, Capullo’s art is on par with his recent work in Batman. – Vivek
• Buy! Capullo’s art is enamoring and his story with Millar is an entertaining mystery that calls up a series of engaging questions about life and death. It is a personal story and the team have meticulously played with how to structure its magnitude. It’s a damn good building block to a fantasy that if Millar/Capullo play correctly can bend the rules of the hero’s journey all while making sense of a deeply troubling topic. – Hernan

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

MARVEL COMICS

Dead No More: THE CLONE CONSPIRACY #1 – Dan Slott & Jim Cheung

• Check it out. Spider-Man is a character people will always have varying opinions about, so it’s really up to you to decide if this event is something you’ll want to follow. Personally, I find this story intriguing, and I’ve always been a fan of the character. Give it a chance and you may be surprised. – Deanna

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

Darth Vader #25 (Final Issue) – Kieron Gillen & Salvador Larocca

• Check out this issue; buy the series. If you’ve been reading this one all along, you’ll want to know how it ends, though the final issue falls short of the climax in previous ones. If you haven’t read this series before, start at the beginning. And hurry: Darth Vader is waiting. – Vivek

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

The Great Lakes Avengers #1 – Zac Gorman & Will Robson 

• Wait and See – The concept of C or D heroes and putting them on a team in what is meant to be a fun and charming book is a great idea. It doesn’t quite work in the first issue, but it also is working to lay a foundation. There is potential here and hopefully it comes around. If Squirrel Girl becomes a regular part of the book which she isn’t in the first issue, that would help. Nathan

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

Howard the Duck #11 (Final Issue) – Chip Zdarsky & Joe Quinones

• Buy, and go pick up the rest…otherwise you won’t be able to make neither heads-nor-tails of this issue! A completely meta-finale that features the inter-dimensional TV writers “Chipp” & “Jho” who have been manipulating Howard’s life throughout both volumes of this series, and their last-ditch attempts to stay ahead of the ratings police. It’s nigh-impossible to craft a satisfying or logical ending to an anarchic comedy, but Messrs. Zdarsky & Quinones have stuck the landing on both counts!–Bob

Mosaic #1 – Geoffrey Thorne & Khary Randolph

• Check it out. Morris Sackett had it all as an MVP basketball player – until he becomes an inhuman. I really liked some of the story-telling in this book, and what we’ve seen of Mosaic’s powers could lead to some really interesting character explorations. I also like Randolph’s art, which is especially strong at portraying settings.  -Vivek

Powerman and Iron Fist #9 – David F. Walker, Sanford Greene & Flaviano

• Skip – this issue. The deep story that Walker, Greene, and Flaviano were telling doesn’t get an ending worthy of it: instead, there’s a big Civil War II fight. Thanks, Marvel. At one point, Danny asks, “If a vision, or a dream, or some kind of damn prophecy of something that might happen is enough to make us all turn on each other,then what’s the point of all the things we’ve fought for together?” Preach. I’m expecting the next issue, which starts a new arc, to return the series to form. – Vivek

TITAN COMICS

Peepland #1 – Christa Faust & Gary Phillips and Andrea Camerini

• Check It Out. If you like your pulpy crime stories with a whole lot of intrigue and a good helping of sex, this is an issue worth picking up. Andrea Camerini’s more cartoony art style doesn’t quite fit the vibe of the book–a seedy 90s landscape with rough-around-the-edges characters–but it does keep it from being too lewd and explicit (which might be a positive or a negative, depending on how saucy you like it!). Christina Faust and Gary Phillips’ plot is not exactly breaking new ground but their gaze into a less-than-traditional narrative surrounding exotic dancers is worth tracking this book down for and giving it just a…peep. –John D.

Rivers of London #1 – Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel and Lee Sullivan

• Buy it now and get addicted to this series. Even if you don’t start reading the novels, the comic series is good enough to stand on its own. – Angela

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

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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