Amazing Spider-Man #679.1 (Marvel)
Jeff: Thank goodness this was a .1 issue and not a regular one. Feel free to skip this. The art was atrocious!
Avengers #22 (Marvel)
Capekiller: Great Immonen cover and Osborn is looking like a dangerous man once again! (B)
Infinite Speech: We don’t negotiate with terrorists but we’ll negotiate with Norman Osborn? Not feeling that at all.
Avenging Spider-Man #4 (Marvel)
Capekillerz: A nice inside look at the A.D.D. suffering Hawkeye. Didn’t even mind Land’s art. (B-)
NickZ: Why was Hawkeye such a douche in this? Not good. I miss Joe Mad.
Batman #6 (DC)
Andy: It’s damn good, obviously, but how the hell did Bruce survive getting a freaking blade through the chest? B
Arnab: This is everything I look for in a Batman book, done excellently.
Infinite Speech: That was it? Hoping that when this story branches out things get better.
NickZ: Best DC book around. Snyder and Capullo hit it out of the park every time!
Birds of Prey #6 (DC)
NickZ: Very cool the way the story unfolded. More Babs, please.
B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth: The Long Death
Capekiller: Wow, a home run right off the get go! Great story and great art! (A)
Captain Atom #6 (DC)
Andy: Six issues in and I still believe this is J.T. Krul’s best written work. If you want to try something different in the superhero genre, give this book a chance. B+
Catwoman #6 (DC)
Arnab: That played out real well. I just want to see more connection between Selina and secondary characters.
NickZ: The most brutal, sexy, heartbreaking comic book series around.
DC Universe Presents: Challengers of the Unknown #6 (DC)
Andy: Knowing nothing about The Challengers, I really wanted to be into this issue… but that wasn’t the case. Boob jokes still? Really, DC? C
Fables #114 (Vertigo)
Andy: Bill Willingham is writing some of his best work to date, hitting on a storyline he’s been writing for years. A
Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #3 (Dynamite)
Infinite Speech: This is a great reintroduction to the world of Flash Gordon that should be read by old and new fans!
Generation Hope #16 (Marvel)
Arnab: So clarify this for me, all those people at Hope’s crucifixion are being mind controlled by Kenji right? Including Emma and the twins?
Capekiller: For the first time in the history of this series, I understand how Hope can be the mutant messiah, and just how dangerous she is! Bishop was right!!!!! (B)
Jeff: This is getting cancelled just as the story is getting good and they finally got a top-notch artist.
NickZ: Hope crucified! Cyclops betrayed! Shit just got real!
Glory #23 (Image)
Andy: I never read anything with the title character before this issue, and I’ll be back for #24. Still on the fence, though. B
Invincible Iron Man #513 (Marvel)
Capekiller: Better, but still doesn’t make me care about Iron Man at all. (C+)
Infinite Speech: So…War Machine got a new suit of armor last year. I guess no one at Marvel remembered that little tidbit of info.
New Avengers #21 (Marvel)
Capekiller: An all out slug-fest that sees Wolverine and Cage dismantle Ragnarok. This is always one of my favourite reads. (B+)
Infinite Speech: Ragnarok brings the pain in what is building up to be a much better Osborn story than Siege & Dark Reign.
Nightwing #6 (DC)
Arnab: Dick is written perfectly here, he has an awesome scene with Alfie, and man oh man that was a killer ending.
NickZ: Am I the only one who is just bored to death with Nightwing and his traveling circus?
Peter Panzerfaust #1 (Image)
Andy: Not at all what I was expecting, but I’m liking the style choices. B
Arnab: I must admit, I was skeptical picking this up but I thought it was excellent. The art is fresh and unique and the story is exciting.
Red Hood and the Outlaws #6 (DC)
Arnab: Fan-freaking-tastic. Scott Lobdell writes a great first time meeting between Starfire and Jason and Kenneth Rocafort and Blond create visual masterpiece.
Infinite Speech: Despite a rough start this series has continued to excell far beyond expectations! Great origin issue!
NickZ: The best “Bat-family” book out there. A great first meet between Jason and Starfire, although Jason doesn’t strike me as the type who would care that he was naked.
Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Force Storm #1 (Dark Horse)
Infinite Speech: The origin of the Force and those who first used it’s power starts here! Great amount of story backed with superb artwork reinforces why this needs to be on every Star Wars fan’s shelf!
Super Dinosaur #8 (Skybound)
NickZ: Eight issues in and this is still a super fun read. Looks like Derek is about to get a teammate or at least have a team-up with Battle Shock!
Supergirl #6 (DC)
NickZ: I was hoping one of these “Worldkillers” would be Doomsday.
Thunderbolts #170
Capekiller: This story arc has been fantastic. Best Marvel is putting out right now! (A)
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #2 (IDW)
Andy: Between this series and “Robots in Disguise,” this is the first time in my life I’m actually into Transformers. B
Ultimate Comics X-Men #7 (Marvel)
Jeff: That’s it. I’m done. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Uncanny X-Men #7 (Marvel)
Capekiller: Not sure this story matters…at all! (C)
Jeff: I’m surprised…..surprised that this issue could possibly be worse than the last issue. Uncanny is officially my least favorite X-book.
NickZ: Storm is quickly becoming my favorite member of the extinction team.
Venom #13.2 (Marvel)
NickZ: If you like Venom, Hulk, X-23, or Ghost Rider, you shouldn’t miss “Circle of Four”, it’s really good!
Winter Soldier #2 (Marvel)
Andy: The art is the best thing this book has going for it. The story is ok, too, but has yet to really kick into gear. B
Arnab: The story is decent, the art is exciting. Unfortunately, all that excitement sometimes makes it very confusing to follow.
Capekiller: Better than issue #1. Not a fan of the art, hard to follow in spots. (B)
Witchblade #153 (Top Cow)
Infinite Speech: Not really feeling the story but the art is fantastic!
Wolverine #301 (Marvel)
Andy: Jason Aaron is hitting damn well with his swan song. B+
Capekiller: Another great Jason Aaron ninja story. Lots of sword fights and body parts in this kung-fu classic! (A-)
Infinite Speech: Too many artists threw off the momentum of a pretty exciting story.
Jeff: Billy Tan. Stop drawing comics. Please.
NickZ: Don’t get me wrong, Jason Aaron has done a great job on this book but how many times can Wolverine fight Sabretooth and ninjas before it gets old?
X-Factor #232 (Marvel)
Andy: I would totally read a solo Madrox book written by Peter David. B+
Arnab: What is there really to say? PAD writes Madrox like a kitten purrs, effortlessly and flawlessly. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Capekiller: Meh, I’m right back to not caring about this title. I’ll leave this book for Jeff and Dan! (C+)
Jeff: FANTASTIC ending to the “We Keep Killing Madrox” arc. Hoo-boy, I stood up and cheered!
NickZ: Madrox and Layla… FINALLY!
Be sure to catch up on all past Chirps here!
Andy Liegl
andy@comicattack.net
Arnab Pradhan
arnab@comicattack.net
Capekiller
capekiller@comicattack.net
Infinite Speech
infinitespeech@comicattack.net
Jeff Jackson
jeff@comicatttack.net
Nick Zamora
nickz@comicattack.net
Did I miss the memo to start grading issues? lol
Hey @NickZ, how can Batman be DC’s best book, but Red Hood be the best bat-book?
Batman is NOT DC’s best book. There are others that are a lot better and Red Hood is one of them!
I’m a good little soldier who does what the boss man does…..
No, I actually dig the quick rating system. I think it really lends itself to the chirps.
@Speech Batman IS DC’s best book!
@Arnab Batman is DC’s best book, Red Hood is the best BAT-FAMILY Book (Batman related books that don’t actually have Batman in them.) Got it.
ah, see I consider all books that Batman is in as still part of the Bat-Family books.
@Capekiller You got something brown on your nose.
I read someone say that “Batman has never been at his lowest than in this arc and Snyder has finally come up with something new!” I call BS on that because there was that time he was addicted to Venom, being paralyzed, being played by George Clooney, being played by Val Kilmer. Just to name a few. My point is, the story is decent so far but it’s not blowing me out of my socks. Now, the art has been AWESOME in every issue and that’s been a major reason I’m still sticking with this title.
Here’s where I take issue with your argument. You’re right that Batman was addicted to Venom, he was paralyzed, but in both those situations his core wasn’t the thing that was being attacked. Undeniably Bruce is one of the greatest martial artists in DC, he’s tremendously strong willed, he’s physically domineering, but I think historically his greatest asset has been his skills of deduction. The world’s greatest detective. What this story does, that the others didn’t, was rattle him to his core. Broken back? No problem. But having a secret organization that has existed in Gotham since before he was born, dictating things left and right, and not only that, but eluding him all this time. That’s what makes this story different. It’s sort of his version of the ultimate failure.
When it comes to “addiction” it is his core that was being attacked. He doubted himself when he couldn’t save the girl which led to a downward spiral. However his enemy was himself and not some outside force which always poses a greater threat. Plus when a character who has a legend like Batman succumbs to something like addiction it’s very shattering. When Bane broke his back that sure wasn’t a “no problem” type of situation if you ask me. Both from Bruce’s psychological and physical stand points there was an evident and complicated struggle there. SoI don’t think this is Bruce/Batman at his lowest just because it’s being hyped that way.
I like the Court of Owls because they make up a brand new villain that we’ve never seen before in DC. New is good but new and cool is always much better. I’m just not sold on these past couple of issues being that great. The cheap “disorientation” ploy from the previous issue was wack and this issue (though better) only had solid writing while it was the art that impressed a lot more.
How does this story arc illustrate “failure” if he had no prior knowledge of The Court to begin with?By your reasoning he’s been a failure for decades and we’ve been duped for just as long. There have been plenty of things that he’s found out after the fact but that doesn’t justify “failure”. Nor does this story arc bring him to his lowest in any sense of the word.
I agree with Arnab on this in that Batman prides himself on his knowledge and wit, but to find out this secret society has been pulling strings this whole time in Gotham, the place where Batman is king is a faliure to him. It’s almost like when you home gets broken into and you can never feel secure there again knowing strangers were going through your stuff.
Arnab, I can see your point there. However, is this his greatest failure as a detective?