Batman #20

Written by Tom King

Penciled by David Finch
Cover by David Finch
Published Apr 5, 2017

   After tearing through practically every villain Batman has ever faced, Bane finally reaches the Bat. He tells him it's the end, but Batman knows this isn't how he was supposed to die. He was supposed to die while saving a crashing airplane. Hearing a voice in his head and reflecting back, he tells Bane that he's heard it a million times and yet, he's still here. But that plane WAS supposed to crash. Finding Gotham and Gotham Girl was a way to save more people. Two heroes that couldn't die like so many under the Batman's wing before. What a relief that must have been, says the voice.
   Batman takes punch after punch, finally being taunted that Bane plans to kill everyone he loves. Alfred, Gotham Girl, Catwoman, Commisioner Gordon.. even describing the methods. The voice reminds him he could still fix Claire. Just find the Pirate. Yes, invading a sovereign country isn't legal so it took a team of former enemies. Then let Bane beat you while the plan was executed. Bane tells him that after he kills everyone, he'll watch the city burn from one of Batman's favorite brooding gargoyles. The voice resumes - You knew he'd follow you back to Gotham. You knew he'd do anything to get the Pirate back. You worked daily to get Claire back and waited - for the one man you know could break you. You took each punch. Through broken ribs, through dimmed sight, you heard a voice - your very own mother.
   She tells him it's ok to give up. But with every step, every punch, Bruce the man is empowered by his mother's memory. For the first time since he lost them, he felt safe. He reached for them and they reached for him back. But he knew every option. And as Bane is screaming at him, asking him if he knows really who Bane is, ending with a loud "I AM BANE!" He thought about Claire. And triumphantly as ever before, he head butts the supervillain and hits back with "I'm Batman..." As Bane lays on he floor, he knows he's lost. Batman won't give up. He won't let Claire go. He suffered through all of this to win this war. Back in his head, his mother tells him it was all suffered for victory. But Bruce tells her that that wasn't it. The girl needed help so he helped her. She tells him that he never needed a good death for her to be proud of him. He tells her that he knows. And with that, this story comes to an end.
   The difference between this book and most other books I read is that with Tom King's Batman, you know you're literally reading something that will be complied in a graphic novel someday as a masterpiece. He has such a skill with words, that you read this and you know this is the reason you read comic books. The only thing that transpires in real time in this issue is the fight with Bane. And you hang on to each panel being completely shocked with the dialogue. Great series. Great art. Great colors... I give this issue a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE

You can also follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading...

The Punisher #10

Written by Becky CloonanPenciled by Matt Horak
Cover by Declan Shalvey
Published Mar 15, 2017

   Olaf and the boss stand on the dock at Condor HQ. Droning on and on about the future of distributing EMC, Olaf bursts his bubble saying he's a soldier, not a drug dealer. The boss asks if he took care of Face and he said that yes, the EMC would take him out in due time. Meanwhile, Face is slowly bleeding to death out of every oriface in the back of DEA Agent Ortiz's car. Previously, she'd promised him a quick death if he showed her where Condor's base was located. Losing consciousness, he gives her clues which steers her closer and closer.
   Back on the deck, some goons mock one of the female mercs for getting her face blown off by the Punisher. She fights back, telling them that the Punisher is a dangerously cruel in what he does to bad guys, and he'll be there soon enough to deal with them. As they walk into the woods to relieve the previous patrol, they follow the tracks to where they suddenly stop. Looking up, their fellow guards' bodies hang upside down from the trees. They radio their discovery in that "the Punisher is HERE!". There riding in on Ethel's motorcycles is Frank Castle, armed with a hatchet. He buries it in some skulls and pulls out a bear trap on a chain. Swinging it from the chopper, he tears the faces off the goons with it. Later he burns on of them to death on the motorcycles carborator and hits another few with the axe.
   Spotted by more guards, he tears one of their arms off with the bear trap and blows him away with a shotgun. Opening the seacan filled with EMC, he's nearly ambushed but manages to get the jump on two more Condor employees. He walks by a guard shack and hears a woman's voice asking for help. There, the woman who had the face injury puts on a hostage act, and once Frank gets too close, she pops him in the neck with a syringe.
   The issue wraps with the boss addressing the organization with a pep talk, on how they're priming to take over. He tells them that they won't be soldiers anymore - just push the product on the streets. Together, they'll do great things. His speech is interrupted by a gunshot though. Olaf tells him they're soldiers - not drug dealers. Under his leadership, Condor has taken steps back. He blows him away and tells the crew to dump him overboard. Olaf tells them all that Condor will flex it's muscles... take the power back.. And it starts with killing the Punisher. The final page reveals Frank Castle restrained with a pistol pointed at his head. He's in trouble. But what becomes of him will have to wait as we're left to be continued.
   I've dogged this series out in the past and to be honest, it's still pretty basic. It's about how I remember all the Punisher books though. This Condor story has dragged on now for 10 issues with no evidence it's gonna slow down. In the past, they'd have thrown Daredevil and maybe Spider-Man in the mix but not here, not yet. Violent to almost the point of ridiculousness, I give this one a 6/10 with hopes they'll step it up a notch in the near future. 

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading.

All New X-Men #19

Written by Dennis Hopeless

Penciled by Paco Diaz
Cover by Mark Bagley
Published Mar 29, 2017

   As Idie and Evan reminisce about the end of an era upon them, Iceman's boyfriend makes fun of him for not knowing what a campground barbecue pit is. Trying to figure out how to light it, Angel flies down with wings aflame, and sets fire to the entire area. They ask him where he's been the last few days and he tells them he's been wiping out a human trafficking ring with Wolverine up in the hills somewhere. Without warning, the Blackbird lands and an unexpected guest walks out.
   Cyclops blasts an old stationwagon that the hotel owner said was used for target practice when that special guest comes walking up. Jean Gray gives him a hug and they share a moment. Cyclops laments Emma Frost starting so much trouble in his life and then escaping scot free. He asks Jean what she's doing there and she tells him Hank asked her to be there for a secret meeting. He suddenly remembers the meeting invite as well, and the two go running.
   Beast thanks the original five for being able to gather, and he explains his recent run in with Doctor Strange and budding use of sorcery. He tells them to close their eyes but Jean peeks, seeing the room aglow and Hank morphes into some huge monster. When the room settles, they see their back in Westchester in the past they were picked from. Scott erupts in joy while the others react with disdain. Hank should have explained. He tells them they'll all understand soon. He tells Pickles to bring them to the bank and there they're teleported to a robbery. Unus the Untouchable walks out. Scott tells them he knows how to beat him now but Hank restrains him. He tells him to wait a moment and it'll all make sense.
   The original X-Men, complete in classic unis fly out and attack. Scott is heartbroken. How can this be? Hank explains that this can't be their timeline. He pulls them back to the present and Scott continues to not believe it. He tells Hank to bring them somewhere else and he explains he doesn't know where that is. He storms out with Jean closely in tow. Cyclops goes out to blow up the car some more, asking her where do we go from here. She says they go forward. He moves to kiss her and they share an awkward moment. She explains that wouldn't be moving forward and he understands. They walk back to the group where Jean quietly asks Beast what that weird morphing thing was. He tells her it wasn't any of her business and the team pulls out some tunes. Instead of baseball, like some other x-titles slowed out with, they have an impromptu X-Men dance party. And with that, this series comes to an end.
   It's bittersweet to see this title wrap. I remember about 40 or 50 some odd issues or so when Uncanny X-Men ended the first time and this was the replacement title. But from Bendis to Hopeless, it seems like a good time to wrap this up. I've already gotten a chance to check out X-Men Blue and if you like this team, the majority of them continue on. I don't know what happens to Idie or Kid Apocalypse but I don't really care. Either way, this was an apt send off, and I give this final issue an 8/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading.

Civil War II: X Men #3

Written by Cullen Bunn

Penciled by Andrea Broccardo
Cover by David Yardin
Published Aug 17, 2017

   Somewhere in the future, Rachel Gray and some of her fellow mutants are on leashes - forced to track other mutants like dogs. It's a vision that sticks with her. Today however, she walks the streets of London in the aftermath of yet another terragenesis event. There with her is Magneto, who forces her to realize that the humans are very much more interested in the new Inhumans than the mutants that have died. He explains to her about Ulysses and how his powers could be used against mutants. In the future that she's from, did she ever see an Inhuman lift a finger for mutantkind?
   Meanwhile in New York, Medusa and Lockjaw meet with Storm to discuss the recent spying incident between Fantomex and Gambit. Obviously the queen is upset but Storm says the party they sent was for their own protection. Magneto however was possibly looking to eliminate Ulysses. Therefore, Storm requests the Inhumans allow the X-Men to handle their former greatest enemy. She agrees but if Magneto does anything else, she'll have to respond in kind.
   Back in the Savage Land, Woz the Inhuman sneaks into War Room X. There the X-Men discuss a plan to secure Ulysses when Sabretooth smells the intruder. They capture him and acknowledge their timeline may be quickly changing. In New York, Gambit holds Fantomex hostage when Storm's team appears to interrogate the spy. He gives up his info quickly - Magneto had sent him in to scope out but not engage. Suddenly Logan hears Archangel approaching. The bungalow explodes and Nightcrawler teleports Fantomex out of the building. Not too far away as Sabertooth, Fantomex, Monet, and now Nightcrawler prepare for a fight. There the X-Men face off against each other...
   Gambit sees Rogue approach and seeing his soft spot for her, Mystique drops her disguise and knocks him out. Logan and Victor Creed savagely slash each other while eventually it dawns on them what this mission is - a distraction. Outside New Attilan, Rachel and Magneto approach the city with apparent bad intentions. We have to wait to see what happens however, as we're left to be continued.
   Cullen Bunn is flexing his muscles with this group and it's paying off. Obviously this sets into motion the breakups and makeups of the previous X-titles, merging into the battle with the Inhumans, and it's bridging along nicely. The X-Men have fought each other before and I'm certain they will again. Still this tale stands on it's own and I'm looking forward tot he next chapter. I give this one a 9/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE

You can also follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading...

Uncanny Avengers #22

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Pepe Larraz
Cover by David Marquez
Published Apr 5, 2017

   As Cable recovers, the rest of the Unity Squad can't keep Deadpool from continuoously roaming the hospital in violation of his doctor's orders. Meanwhile, Beast completes the partial lobotomy on Red Skull and gives the telepathic part of Charles Xavier's brain to Rogue. Soon Captain America arrives to take the Red Skull into custody and demands the brain, whom Rogue refuses. Things start to get tense until Rogue explodes out of an outside wall with it, flies straight up and asks for Human Torch to join her.
  High above the clouds, Rogue tells the torch that it's time to send Charles home. With a burst of fire from his fingertips, Professor X gets a touching sendoff. Johnny gives Rogue some privacy as his ashes are scattered across the sky and she revels in the sunlight in Xavier's honor one last time. Back in the prisoner transport van, a crushed Red Skull asks his Hydra servant Captain America how he could let them do this to him. As the SHIELD motorcade departs, Wasp tells the team she's gonna need a vacation. They ask how Rogue is and Johnny Storm tells them she's gonna be ok.
   Later they all go to a bar to celebrate their disbanding. Wasp takes her leave while Deadpool pulls out a bottle he's been saving for when Wolverine came back. They all give toasts and Wade sneaks out for a walk. Rogue sneaks up on him and asks him if he hates her for the beating she gave him when she was brainwashed. He tells her no and she picks him up and flies high up into the sky. There she plants a big kiss on him and absorbs his sickness. He tells her she deserves better. Speckled with his scars, she tells him she doesn't care what she looks like. As she envisions the horrors that's made him who he is, they keep making out. Somehow Wonder Man materializes and asks Deadpool for an explanation. But stammering and unable to give him one, we're left to be continued.
   After it was explained the X-Men would be reforming en masse, I assumed this book was on it's deathbed. Duggan decided to give his favorite character ever Deadpool a girlfriend. How that plays out I guess we'll see. As he's been a part of the X-family for so long, there's no reason to think they won't be taking Wade Wilson back to Westchester. I just hope they do it the right way. For this issue, I give it a 9/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading.

Batman #19

Written by Tom King

Penciled by David Finch
Cover by David Finch
Published Mar 15, 2017

   Bane storms into Arkham, ready to beat the Dark Knight for the final time. First encounter is Maxi Zeus, who is spurting out passages from Dante's Inferno. Next up, Two Face offers his help in exchange for Bane's offer, which is a quick gut punch and uppercut as he steams through. In the hallway about an hour and a half after his arrival, he rips through Solomon Grundy and Amygdala, while on the other side of the door, the Scarecrow rattles off everything he's afraid of in life. Now roughly 3 hours after his entrance, Bane smashes through and is sprayed by his patented nightmare inducing spray. He writhes around for a few minutes, tells Scarecrow he doesn't get nightmares, he gives them. With that, Scarecrow screams in agony as Bane presumably beats the shit out of him.
   Now nearly 5 hours after this ordeal has begun, Bruce, Alfred, and Gotham Girl sit recovering in a cell. Batman explains to Alfred he armed and freed all of the inmates in hopes of stalling Bane, much to Alfred's shock and disbelief. Meanwhile Bane continues his march, meeting some resistance from Mr Freeze but eventually exploding through the ice that he's encased in. "Impossible" Mr Freeze says... "Not impossible, Bane" he replies. Over the next few hours, he one by one defeats Firefly, Black Spider, Flamingo, Man-Bat, Mad Hatter.. and a scourge of Batman's greatest foes. Explaining that he was done with being a criminal, all he needed was venom and Batman couldn't leave well enough alone. He finally reaches the Joker's cell. Grabbing the Riddler and telling him he has 30 seconds to open it which he does. And there, a full 24 hours after his grand entrance, stands the Batman. As Zeus now recites The Marriage Of Heaven and Hell, the two figures size each other up. They squint, they ball their fists and prepare to fight for the death... but with that, we're left to be continued.
   Tom King never takes a break. He crams as much into this series as he can, including somehow every bad guy Batman has ever fought short of the Joker and Harley Quinn. It once again proves why this is one of the best titles DC has going right now and why I'm always left wanting more. I give this one a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading.

All New X-Men #12

Written by Dennis Hopeless

Penciled by Mark Bagley
Cover by Mark Bagley
Published Aug 10, 2016

   The X-Men are trying to get back to normal, and during some rare downtime, Warren takes off to Milan for Fashion Week. Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend Laura just finds herself wanting to be alone. Noticing that she's having a rough go, the still healing and wheelchair bound Cyclops has something for her that might do just the trick. A dossier of solo missions, all over analyzed and risk-grouped by the incomparable young Beast. She takes him up on it, along with his secret weapon - the time traveling Nightcrawler minion, Pickles.
   First stop is Brazil, where an environmental terriost offshoot of Daredevil's rivals the Hand has been training. Only problem is that once Wolverine leaps into ferocious action, she finds them all already defeated. Next on the list is Toronto, where sightings of Mole Man and subterranean monster attacks have terrified the locals. But there again, she finds the threat already neutralized. Next up, Cameron Hodge has hijacked a truck and is vacuuming up terrigen to weaponize M-Pox, but again she finds the truck crushed and the baddies tied up. Finally she hits up the goblin queen in Florida and she's finally able to unleash her claws. She starts slashing and hacking, not being morally abashed because killing demons is apparently totally cool for the Weapon X clone. Suddenly a fiery explosion interrupts her and as the smoke clears, she sees former old flame (pardon the pun) Warren Worthginton bathed in fire.
   Obviously not at fashion week, they immediately begin arguing. Wolverine was only trying to be a normal teenager for him and he tells her she's terrible at normal. He reminds her how reckless she is and she reminds him about his assault on the Blob. While he was being so judgemental to her, he he is doing the same thing. He tells her he can't help it now and she doesn't know what that feels like. She tells him she knows exactly what it feels like and they immediately start making out.
   The issue ends with the demons asking their queen if they should put themselves back together and take out the X-men duo while they're distracted, and she tells them no, not right now. Let the kiddies have their fun. The next page reveals whom they're talking to - the dreaded Inferno version of Madelyne Pryor. And with that, we're left to be continued.
   I've read a lot of reviews of this particular issue and they all gravitate to one point - Dennis Hopeless and his forced youth lingo is annoying, not believable, and distracting. While I'm aware we're dealing with a young group of X-Men here, it's irritating to be force fed this teeny soap opera bullshit that doesn't really do much to help out the storyline. I don't remember Chris Claremont or Scott Lobdell trying to lather up the 80's/90's version of "LOL" and nobody needs it here either. He's done a good job up to this point but there's some red flags. I give it a 7/10 and I hope he has some sort of plan before this series comes to a close...

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE

You can also follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Like comics? Check out my ebay store HERE.

Until next time, thanks so much for reading...