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All-Star Batman #6
Publisher: DC
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist(s): Jock & Francesco Francavilla
Colorist(s): Matt Hollingsworth
Cover: Jock

This issue sets up a new arc as Snyder brings back Mr. Freeze and already it’s a much better showing of the character than what we got during the New 52. Snyder brings him back in all of his tortured and fractured greatness with a world damning plan to bring his wife back. Together with Jock they kick the traditional style of comic story telling in the face and go with something more fitting of a graphic novel. This approach maintains a very intense yet creepy tone from beginning to end and you’ll immediately want the next issue after finishing this one. Now Snyder and Jock deliver a damn good comic but it’s Steve Wands’ lettering that puts the exclamation point on the visual storytelling here. The second tale gives us more Duke as the Riddler has constructed one of the most stressful crossword puzzles ever. Francesco Francavillia is the artist here and though he continues to bring his pulp feel to the story we get robbed a bit because the story is so short. 4/5

Justice League/Power Rangers #1
Publisher: DC
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Stephen Byrne
Colors: Stephen Byrne
Cover: Karl Kerschl

This is one of those team-ups that never crossed my mind but now that it’s here my interest is piqued. Taylor starts this one off pretty dark but we quickly rewind to see how the Rangers’ base was infiltrated and Zack ends up in the DCU along with Zed. What’s great here is that Tylor doesn’t waste our time on character descriptions and gives an effective set up as to the how and why of the story. Byrne’s art carries the story pretty well though the first few pages were a bit rough for me. His Superman looks like a teenager and it really throws off the serious and brooding tone of those panel sequences. However, the action sequences are great and for the most part show the Black Ranger kicking all kinds of butt and then going toe to toe with Batman. It’s a fun issue overall and worth coming back for the second. 3/5

The Flash #14
Publisher: DC
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colorist: Ivan Plascencia
Cover: Carmine Di Giandomenico

It took a while but Williamson is finally bringing The Rogues back to this series. Now if you’re not too familiar with them you will get a bare bones history lesson as Barry is investigating where his longtime rivals have gone. For the most part Williamson brings readers up to speed (no pun intended) while also pushing the narrative for this story forward at a nice pace. He does further Barry’s personal life narrative a bit but the real meat here is the search for The Rogues. The visuals are once again handled by Carmine Di Giandomenico who has been on fire whenever he’s drawing this title. With Plascencia on the colors you can’t help but get panel after panel of great visual storytelling. By the issue’s end you’re on the edge of your seat ready for next one as they have shown themselves to be a few steps ahead of The Fastest Man Alive! 4/5

Infinite Speech
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