Welcome to the latest Revolution feature. Bunker Bulletins will enable us to showcase more reviews. The reviews will be shorter but still use the same rating system. There are many comics we never get to review. If any of the books reviewed here catch your eye, let us know and we will try to do a full review of the next issue.
BIRDS OF PREY #124
Creative Team
Writer: Tony Bedard
Penciller: Claude St. Aubin
Inker: Tom Floyd
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
This issue features 2 battles. The first is between the Birds and the villains behind the Syndicate. It is a big knock down brawl as the bad guys turn even the airport hanger into a weapon to use against the Birds.
The big battle is the Joker’s attack on Barbara Gordon. He stalks her in her own base. The highlight of the issue is Barbara’s revenge. I won’t tell you what she does to him but it is very fitting. The down side is that the Joker really wants to catch up to Barbara again.
Overall it was a decent story. The Joker vs. Barbara was the high point. The other fight was o.k. but nothing spectacular. I am curious to see what they do with this title when it is rebooted.
BLUE BEETLE #33
Creative Team
Writer: Matthew Sturges
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
This is a book I have mixed feelings about. I really liked it when the original writers were on the book. I liked the direction that was layed out by Keith Giffin. Sturges does an ok job with the book but he hasn’t made this a must read.
The art is good in spots but too scratchy in others. The storyline starting picking up the pace towards the end. The villain(the new Doctor Polaris) used his brain with this plan. He manages to distract the heroes with various diversions while he puts his plan into motion. The ending caught me by surprise.
Hopefully, the next time Blue Beetle appears (this book is ending in 3 issues) the author can find the right niche to showcase this interesting character.
X-FORCE #9Creative Team
Artist: Mike Choi
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
I am probably showing my age, but I remember the Vanisher as the villain in the strange green costume who fought the X-Men. Now he wears a black costume and has tattoos. He can be an effective opponent when he is utilized this way. He uses his powers to steal a vial containing a mutated version of the Legacy virus. The writers keep the story moving.
Based on what I saw in this issue, Mike Choi was born to draw Ghost Rider. His art on the flaming skull (especially the transformation from human to demon skull) is some of the best I have seen for the Ghost Rider. The other part of the issue that stands out is the battle with the demon bear.
The downside to this issue is the character design. It seems like everyone has black leather costumes. This really limits the artist. I would like to see him on a standard super-hero book. Choi excells when he has the contrasting colors.
Overall it was a good issue that got my attention. It will be added to my regular reading list.
SAVAGE DRAGON #141Art Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
Wow! It is hard to believe that Erik Larsen has done this many issues. I read the early issues but lost track of the title in the past few years. This is a bad issue to pick up if you are not familiar with the Image universe. Larsen is wrapping up a massive crossover of the various Image heroes.
Story wise, Larsen keeps the action going at full speed. If you are looking for a deep metaphysical story, look somewhere else. Dragon is more like a high paced kung fu movie. Summer blockbuster movies cannot keep up with this title.
The art is from the Walt Simonson school. Sound effects are incorporated in the panels. Varying panel sizes draw you through the page and help control the speed of the story.
I was caught off-guard by the effect of Dragon’s punch on Solar Man. The other thing that surprised me was the source of Solar Man’s increased powers. Anytime a writer can surprise me, he really gets my attention. After reading comics since the late 60s, most of the time I don’t get surprised. Hats off to Larsen for a good issue. After reading this, Savage Dragon is back on my reading pile.
Ghost Rider #29Artist: Tan Eng Huat
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
This issue features the showdown between 2 Ghost Riders, Johnny Blaze and his brother Danny Ketch. Based on recent revelations, Johnny found out that his powers were given to him by the renegade angel Zadkiel. Zadkiel gave the powers to various people around the world. He will harness their powers in an attempt to take control of Heaven.
I prefer the lone Ghost Rider. The author is taking the book in a direction that is similar to Iron Fist. One of the best parts of the old Ghost Rider series was the fact that Johnny was the only one suffering this curse. With various Ghost Riders around the globe, he looses that unique quality.
The author did a good job with the conflict between the brothers. Unfortunately, the battle did not end. In a story called “Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance”, I thought one of the brothers would no longer be a Ghost Rider. It seems like a cop-out designed to set up another battle in the future.
The art was lacking. Backgrounds were almost non-existant. The Ghost Riders looked too cartoonish. When I read about 2 demon-like entities fighting it out, I expect more realistic art. The cover and splash page were more along the line of what I was expecting.
Overall, this was a disappointing read. I will read another issue to see if the storyline progresses. The war to take Heaven could make for interesting reading.