3. Justice League Vol. 7: The Darkseid War Part 1

Written by Geoff Johns

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Published by DC Comics (Marchl 15, 2016)

Source:  Netgalley 

Now this is what an epic Justice League comic should look like!  Once again, Geoff Johns delivers a modern day classic with the Justice League, the New Gods, Darkseid, and many more.  The art being delivered by Jason Fabok was breathtaking.  I know this sounds like hyperbole but the Johns/Fabok team is one of my favorites.  It leaves me anxious to see where this story goes next.

Highly recommended.

1. Batman Vol. 7: Endgame

Written by Scott Snyder

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Published by DC Comics (September 22, 2015)

Source:  Netgalley

Building on what Grant Morrison established with the Joker, Scott Snyder has him return as a different version of the character with each appearance.  This time, he is serious about killing Batman.  Snyder continues to come up with creative ways for the Joker to attack Batman.  As Batman hunts for him, it is revealed that his nemesis has been in Gotham since the founding of the city.  Is he actually immortal?  If so, is Batman doomed to lose in the end?  The tension mounts in one of Snyder's best stories to date.

Highly recommended but you will want to read this series from the start to get the full effect of the story.

Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 10: Victory

Writer:  Kurt Busiek

Artist:  Brent Anderson

First Publication:  September 2014

Source:  Comixology

Publisher:  DC Comics

Collects issue #s 7-10, Visitors Guide #1

Graphic Novel Challenge #7

Busiek ups his game with the story of an insidious attack on his version of Wonder Woman (Winged Victory).  Winged Victory has been a champion for equal rights.  She has established facilities to help women in trouble.  Now one of her enemies has revealed that everything was staged.  The villains she has beaten were paid by her.  She has been framed but all of the evidence has put doubt in the peoples’ heads.  It is a race against time to solve the mystery and restore her good name.  

An excellent book that gets a high recommendation from me.

Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol. 9: Through Open Doors

Writer:  Kurt Busiek

Artist:  Brent Anderson

First Publication:  April 2014

Source:  Comixology

Publisher:  DC Comics

Collects issue #s 1-6

Graphic Novel Challenge #6

Great covers?  Check (artist Alex Ross does fantastic covers).  Great Writing?  Check (Kurt Busiek is one the best-his run on Thunderbolts was amazing).  Great Art?  Check (I have been a big Brent Anderson fan over the years-some of the highlights were his work on X-Men:  God Loves, Man Kills, Somerset Holmes, Ka-Zar the Savage, Strikeforce:  Morituri, and many others).  This creative team, along with inker Willie Blyberg, launched the Astro City series.  

In the latest volume, Anderson began to ink himself.  While the art is still excellent, I miss Blyberg’s inks.  Busiek begins with a more metatextual story.  The main character of the first story breaks the fourth wall to talk to the readers.  The team turned in a great beginning to the latest volume.  It’s a can’t miss for fans of character studies set in the world of super heroes.  

Highly recommended.

Batman Beyond: Justice Lords Beyond

Writers:  Kyle Higgins & Christos Gage

Artists:  Thony Silas & Iban Coelo

First Publication:  March 2015

Source:  Comixology

Publisher:  DC Comics

Graphic Novel Challenge #5

Kyle Higgins continues to write some of the best traditional style comic books with this crossover.  This time he builds upon a story about the evil version of the future Justice League of a parallel Earth.  The plotting is perfect as the characters from two very different Earths collide.  

Highly recommended.

Batman Beyond 2.0: Rewired

Writer:  Kyle Higgins

Artist:  Thony Silas

First Publication:  November 2014

Source:  Comixology

Publisher:  DC Comics

Collects issues #1-8

Graphic Novel Challenge #4

When I saw that Kyle Higgins was writing this series, I knew I would enjoy it.  Higgins is one of the best Nightwing writers and his handling of the rest of the Bat-verse is spot on.  Now he gets to show what he can do with the future Batman.  

“Rewired” is classic comic book storytelling.  Terry McGinnis is dealing with going to college, being disenfranchised from Bruce Wayne (due to events in the previous series), and building a working relationship with Dick Grayson and Commissioner Barbara Gordon.  A mystery villain keeps you guessing as the story builds to its finale.  

Highly recommended for fans of classic comics or the Batman Beyond series.

Nightwing Volume 4: Second City

Author:  Kyle Higgins

Artists:  Brett Booth, Will Conrad, Norm Rapmund

First Publication:  July 2014

Source:  NetGalley

Publisher:  DC Comics

Collects issues #s 19-24

Graphic Novel Challenge #2

From NetGalley: Kyle Higgins sends Nightwing to the Windy City to track down his parent's killer!

After the Joker's attack on the Bat-family, Nightwing finds himself in a new setting with an unlikely ally, The Prankster. Together they are being hunted by the mysterious Mask Killer while Dick tries to find the man who killed his parents, Tony Zullo. Twists and surprises are at every turn in this exciting new chapter of Nightwing! 

Kyle Higgins, my favorite Nightwing writer, took him out from under the shadow of Batman and made Nightwing into his own hero.  The struggles with finding out that Tony Zucco was still alive and tracking him down helped define Nightwing.  The additional change of moving to Chicago also gave him a whole new environment to make his own.  Higgins is a master of plotting and characterization.  Dick Grayson sounds right when his dialogue is scripted by Higgins.  And the art is amazing.  Booth, Rapmund, and Conrad all do a fantastic job of bringing the scripts to life.

Highly recommended.  If you are any kind of Nightwing fan, pick up and read all of the Higgins collections.

Teen Titans Earth One

Writer:  Jeff Lemire

Artists:  Rachel Dodson Terry Dodson

Source:  Net Galley

First Publication:  November 2014

Publisher:  DC Comics

Graphic Novel Challenge #62

From Amazon:  

A new original graphic novel in DC's popular "Earth One" series, TEEN TITANS: EARTH ONE follows in the tradition of SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE and BATMAN: EARTH ONE, both of which were #1 New York Times bestsellers. 

The Teen Titans never felt like normal kids... but they had no idea how right they were. Their seemingly idyllic Oregon upbringing hides a secret -- one that will bring killers, shamans, and extraterrestrials down on their heads, and force them into an alliance that could shake the planet to its foundations! 

The Creators:

Jeff Lemire caught my attention with his work on various DC titles.  One of the first that I remember was his stint on SUPERBOY before the start of the New52.  One of the most interesting titles he has written was the FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E.  Definitely worth following.

The Dodsons have worked on numerous titles for various companies.  Their smooth lines show some of the same rendering styles used by Adam Hughes.

The Story:

I had mixed feelings about this one.  On one hand I could see where this would appeal to younger fans.  The storytelling is solid but not up to the quality  I have come to expect from Lemire.  It did not have the innovative ideas of his other work.  A younger fan who is not as familiar with Lemire or the Titans would enjoy this one.  For me, I will stick with the stories written by Marv Wolfman and Geoff Johns.  Both did Titans stories more to my liking.

The high point of the story was the art.  The Dodsons consistently turn out good work but I thought this was some of their best.  

Nightwing Vol. 5: Setting Son

Author:  Kyle Higgins

Artists:  Will Conrad, Cliff Richards, Russell 
Dauterman

Publisher:  DC Comics

Source:  NetGalley

First Publication:  December 2014

Collects:  Nightwing #s 25-29, Annual #1

Graphic Novel Challenge #58

The finale to Nightwing’s solo title was a good one.  I have been a fan of Kyle Higgins tenure on this title.  He has fleshed out the background of Dick Grayson, especially his life at the circus.  The main focus of this collection is a battle with the classic Bat-villain the Mad Hatter.  Nightwing becomes involved with trying to help a victim of the Hatter who suffers from multiple personalities.  A side effect of her mistreatment at the Hatter’s hands is that she is able to imitate any fighting style once she sees it.  Higgins uses it to show the emotional, mental, and physical struggles of this battle.  

Also included is a Nightwing Annual that shows Dick’s last day in Gotham as he leaves Babs Gordon behind. An epilog to the series is the final issue in the collection.  It is written by the team who are writing Grayson.  They use it to set the stage for that Dick Grayson/spy comic.  

Highly recommended.

The Royals: Masters of War

Author:  Rob Williams

Artist:  Simon Coleby

Publisher:  DC

First Publication:  December 2014

Source:  NetGalley

Graphic Novel Challenge #54

Why does royalty only marry those of the royal blood?  In this fascinating alternate history we find out that it is because the royals are super-powered.  When they breed with other super powered people, it creates more people like them.  So the royals of this world agree to never use their powers in battle.  The will let the lesser people fight the wars.  The creators use this background to show how World War II would have gone.  Events go basically like it did in our world, until a British prince breaks the covenant.   He cannot tolerate seeing the British attacked by the Germans and puts an end to it.  This leads to all-out war between the royals.  The combination of storytelling and art is perfect for this one.  

Highly recommended.  It is one of my favorite reads of this year.

Wonder Woman Volumes 1-4

The New 52 version of Wonder Woman is one of the best written books published today.  I rank it as my favorite version of Wonder Woman.  Brian Azzarello added an element of horror to the series.  Part of this was done by making the gods more like they were in the original mythologies.  They are not necessarily human, are powerful, spiteful, and not afraid to use others as their play things.  Azzarello’s Wonder Woman almost feels like an old Vertigo book.  The only problem I see with the New 52 version is that it is not consistent across the line.  The Wonder Woman in Geoff Johns’ “Justice League” seems like a different character.  But Peter Tomasi wrote her in line with Azzarello’s version.  With Azzarello’s run ending soon, I am sure the next version will be more along the lines of the “Justice League” Wonder Woman.  I will miss this series.

The only thing I did not care for was the choice of art direction.  The minimalistic art does not fit the lush storytelling.  This is a series that would have been better with a more realistic artist.  The horror and supernatural elements would have carried more weight.

Based on my new rating system, all of the collections get a 7 of 10 rating.  The storytelling gets high ratings while the art pulls it down.  Whether or not you agree with me about the art, these collections are must buys.  “Wonder Woman” continues to be one of the most intriguing, suspense books on the shelves and be fondly remembered as a great series.

Author:  Brian Azzarello

Artists:  Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins

Publisher:  DC Comics

Graphic Novel Challenge #s 42-45

Wonder Woman Volume 1:  Blood 

Rating 7

Wonder Woman Volume 2:  Guts 


Rating 7

Wonder Woman Volume 3:  Iron 


Rating 7

Wonder Woman Volume 4:  War 


Rating 7

Batman and Robin Vol. 4: Requiem for Damian

Author:  Peter Tomasi

Artist:  Patrick Gleason

Publisher:  DC Comics

First Publication:  June 10, 2014

Source:  Net Galley

Graphic Novel Challenge #34

Collects:  Batman and Robin #s 18-23

Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason have been one of DC's most consistent top teams over the last few years.  This book is no exception.

Following the death of Damian (Robin) Wayne, Bruce (Batman) Wayne is spinning further into the depths of depression.  His method of dealing with the death of his son is not good for any one else.  Batman takes some drastic measures that would seem crazy but, as anyone who has a child will tell you, parents will do anything for their children.

The combination of Tomasi's emotional writing and the great art of Gleason makes for a sure fire hit.  And pity anyone who gets in Batman's way...

"Batman and Robin" gets one of my highest recommendations.  I would recommend picking up all of the collections in this series.

Injustice Gods Among Us Vol. 2 and Wonderland Asylum

Author:  Patrick Shand


Artist:  Tony Brescini


Publisher:  Zenescope


First Publication:  July 1, 2014


Graphic Novel Challenge #32

Author:  Tom Taylor


Artists:  Mike S. Miller, Tom Derenick


Publisher:  DC Comics


First Publication:  July 1, 2014


Graphic Novel Challenge #33





My comments about these books are so similar I decided to do a joint review.

Both titles had art that I liked.  Miller and Derenick both contributed quality work to "Injustice".  I give the edge to Derenick as being an artist I have liked in the past.  Brescini also did a nice job with the art on "Wonderland".  Based only on the art, i would give both of the titles a good grade.  Unfortunately, both stories did not appeal to me.

Most of the time, I enjoy alternate world stories but "Injustice Gods Among Us" was not something that connected with me.  I believe I am in the minority because it seems like this is a very popular series with other fans and critics.  The reason I did not like "Wonderland:  Asylum" was the characters.  Something was missing from the characterization in this book.  Let me say that both are well done but just did not connect with me.

Green Arrow Volume 5: The Outsiders War

Author:  Jeff Lemire

Artist:  Andrea Sorrentino

Publisher:  DC Comics

First Publication:  October 14, 2014

Source:  Net Galley

Graphic Novel Challenge #31

Collects:  Green Arrow #s 25-31

Summary:  As Green Arrow discovers that his stranding on a desert island was more than just an accident, there seem to be more sinister forces at work behind all these sudden revelations. The Queen family is embroiled in a war generations old. A war of clans. A war of outsiders. 

Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino have put together one of my favorite Green Arrow series.  I was sorry to hear that their time on the title is coming to an end.  I will be following both creators to their new series.

Lemire's history of Green Arrow is being slowly revealed with more clues being show in each issue.  He is a master of how to craft an exciting present day story while working in flashbacks.

And what more can be said about Sorrentino's art?  He has developed into one of the best artists working today.  The innovative panels/page layouts make the atmosphere explode off of each page.  I have not been this impressed with original page composition since the heyday of "Master of Kung Fu" when either Paul Gulacy or Gene Day was the artist.  

Green Arrow, and the Queen family, continue to be put through the ringer as the tension builds with each chapter.

Highly recommended.

Forever Evil

Author:  Geoff Johns

Artist:  David Finch

Publisher:  DC Comics

Publication:  Sept. 9, 2014

Source:  Net Galley

Graphic Novel Challenge #23

Summary:  The world changes in an instant.  Seemingly overnight, the Justice League is defeated and disappears.  The Crime Syndicate of Earth 3 is now in charge and the world will not be the same.  Earth's salvation depends on the determination and planning of one man...Lex Luthor!

Geoff Johns has been one of my favorite writers since his early days of writing "Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E." and co-writing the revived "Justice Society".  I have followed his career as he grew into being one of the top writers in the industry.  This is another classic work of his.

Johns has always had a way with writing the villains.  We get to see behind the scenes of what makes this dark version of the Justice League tick.  His Rogues features, especially the Captain Cold stories, in "Flash" was a sign of things to come.  This was followed by his development of Sinestro in "Green Lantern".  Now his considerable talents are being turned to Lex Luthor.  And it is making for great reading for comics fandom.  I don't want to give away any of the plot.  This needs to be read by every fan of mainstream comics.

The art of David Finch is a good fit for Johns' story.  He is equally talented at illustrating the special effects and the up close individual shots.  I hope that this team continues to work together in the future.

Highly recommended.

I read this as part of the 2014 Graphic Novel Challenge.

Wonder Woman Vol. 5: Flesh

Writer:  Brian Azzarello

Artists:  Cliff Chiang, Goran Sudzuka

Publisher:  DC Comics

Publication Date:  October 7, 2014

Source:  Netgalley

Graphic Novel Challenge #22

Collects:  Wonder Woman #s 24-29, Wonder Woman 23.2 

Everything is starting to come together in the next to last arc for this creative team.  Due to events that happened in a previous arc, Wonder Woman is now the God of War.  Zeus' First Born is back from exile.  He is not happy.  The First Born leads an all-out assault on Olympus.  And when you have a violent god out for blood, the violence goes off the charts.

First Born was shafted by being imprisoned.  Azzarello shows what he has been made to endure.  His return for retribution appears to be the big event that the team has been building towards on this unique take on the Wonder Woman mythos.  At times Wonder Woman has been a good title but Azzarello has made it into a must read.  Each new issue is at the top of that week's reading stack.  The art is not my favorite but it does help to contribute to the overall look of the book.  And the various artists have kept a consistent look throughout this run.  I will miss this team and hope that the new creative team will incorporate part of what has been built here.  I cannot wait to see how Azzarello wraps up his big story and what happens to the characters he created.

Highly recommended.

The Flash Vol. 4: Reverse

Writers/Artists: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato

Publisher:  DC Comics

Publication Date:  Aug. 19, 2014

Source:  Netgalley

Graphic Novel Challenge Book #21

Summary (from Amazon) :  The fourth volume of Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul's New 52 breakout hit - The Flash!

A mysterious and powerful Speed-Force killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake and only Barry has the power to stop him. But when the killer stays one step ahead of him, Barry finds himself face to face with the Teen Titans and Kid Flash for the first time. All this will lead to a confrontation with the Flash's most deadly foe, The Reverse Flash!


Collects THE FLASH #20-25, and #23.3: REVERSE FLASH.

I have enjoyed the New52 version of the Flash.  Manapul and Buccellato have done a great job of recapturing the feel of the classic Barry Allen stories while using modern storytelling methods.  

One of the things that really stands out is the graphic design.  I always look forward to seeing how they are incorporating the title into the story.  I have only seen a few other artists use this method.  Will Eisner, Frank Miller, Jim Steranko, and various artists on Don MacGregor's "Black Panther" have made the title part of the art.  Sometimes it appears as part of a structure, sometimes as part of the background or debris.  It catches the eye while not taking you out of the story.

"Reverse" is the culmination of a plot that began in issue #1 (and even before that in the "Flashpoint" mini-series).  Manapul and Buccellato have slowly built suspense by revealing little clues.  The slow burn build up made the payoff in this collection all the better.

The only disappointment with this collection is that it is the end of their run on "The Flash".  This team will be missed.

Highly recommended.

Trillium

Creator:  Jeff Lemire

First Publication:  2014

Graphic Novel Challenge book #20

Trillium is an interesting combination of many different types of stories. 

First off, I found the art to be reminiscent of the classic science fiction comics published by EC.  In addition to the art, the story brought back fond memories of the tales that appeared in Weird Science.  

Fans of Indiana Jones will like the jungle adventure story that takes place in the past. Science fiction fans will prefer the story in the future. It focuses on a scientist's interaction with an alien species.  At the same time he also builds the story around a romance between the two main characters.

Jeff Lemire utilizes an interesting technique to leave stories together.

I recommend this book to people who are looking for something different than the usual superhero stories to read.

Aquaman Vol. 4: Death of a King

Writer:  Geoff Johns

Artist:  Paul Pellitier and Sean Parsons

First Publication:  2014

Graphic Novel Challenge Book #3

Summary from Amazon:  Unfolding out of the events of "THRONE OF ATLANTIS" comes a mystery that sends Aquaman to the ends of the Earth to solve an ancient murder--one that will reveal a horrific truth about Arthur Curry and threaten those closest to him today.
Also, as the Scavenger compiles more Atlantean weaponry and artifacts, Aquaman enlists the aid of The Others to help find one missing relic in the Southwestern United States before his enemies can get to it and possess untold power.

Collects issues #17-19, 21-25 of the monthly series.

I enjoyed the way Geoff Johns has introduced the Others.  The idea that Aquaman headed up his own version of the Justice League appealed to me.  Johns kept the suspense at a high level while building on the characterization of the many different players in this series.  The mystery of the Atlantean artifacts is especially intriguing.

While Ivan Reis made this his series in the previous issues, Paul Pelletier was a solid choice to follow him.  Pelletier started out following Reis' art style but has transitioned to his personal style as he drew more issues.

I highly recommend reading this series beginning with the first issue.

On a side note, it is hard to believe that the Scavenger first appeared in the original Aquaman series (issue #37) in 1968.  

His first appearance featured art (including this cover) by the legendary Nick Cardy.  Cardy was one of my favorite artists of that era and one of the best cover artists ever.  

28. Batman Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star

Writer:  Grant Morrison

Artist:  Chris Burnham

First Publication:  2012

Challenge:  Graphic Novels Challenge (#15)


Grant Morrison’s Batman is highly regarded by me.  Some people don’t care for it.  This collection starts the finale of Morrison’s Batman epic.  The battle with Leviathan is heating up.  I can see various plotlines from his early issues coming to bear in this series.  When Morrison is finished with it, I plan on going back and re-reading his entire catalog of Batman stories.  I think it will be even better the second time around.  This is not a good place to start.  I would recommend starting with “Batman and Son”.  It is worth the effort to read all of Morrison's epic.  One of the things I liked was all of the Batman stories are in continuity.