Tuesday, February 28, 2017

​ Ep. 060 - 2017 OSCARS EDITION!

​This week, Wess and Chad react to this years’ Oscars winners! Spoiler alert: Chad grumpy!!


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Wess Reads Comics - Week of 2/22/17

Each week, Wess grabs a few issues from his stack of comics to share his thoughts with you. If you're looking for a place for brief, initial impressions, then this is it! Have questions about books that Wess didn't review? Then leave a comment below!

Hey everyone! This week I'm going to try to do something different. Instead of reviewing and discussing only a couple of books, I'm going to post some very quick thoughts about each of them! If you like the format, sound off in the comments below!

Action Comics #974
Credit: DC Comics

If you're expecting to get more answers surrounding the other Clark Kent, you won't find them here. What you'll get is more set up for the upcoming "Superman: Reborn" storyline that crosses over to 'Superman'. More tension building, more side plots that aren't paying off yet.

Grade: B


Credit: DC Comics
Detective Comics #951

It's good to see Batman caught off his guard at times. Especially when he's denying the complete existence of an individual or organization ::coughcoughCourtofOwlscoughcough::. James Tynion IV continues to do great work with this team centered Batbook in finding new threats for Bats to gear up for.

Grade: B+


The Kamandi Challenge #2
Credit: DC Comics

Peter Tomasi picks up the cliff hanger from last issue and makes the jump well enough to feel like it was where the story was heading to begin with. Neal Adams' art feels more at place here than a lot of recent work. Jack Kirby's spirit is truly alive in this issue.

Grade: A


Credit: DC Comics
Justice League of America #1

While we still don't know, and presumedly won't for a while, why Bruce has built his own Justice League, we do get their first challenge: interpersonal group dynamic issues! Oh yeah, and some typical alien threat. I'm just counting down the issues until the JLA has to fight the Justice League...again. Hopefully the future challenges for the group don't feel as cookie cutter as this one.

Grade: B-


Wonder Woman #17
Credit: DC Comics

Uhhh...let's see..."Wonder Woman". Yep. Just wanted to make sure that was the title of this book. We see a lot of people talking about Wonder Woman but she doesn't get much "screen time". Instead what you get are are friends going to different lengths to help her in her moment of need.

Grade: B


Credit: Marvel Comics
Captain America: Steve Rogers #12

Each issue brings us closer and closer to "Secret Empire". This book has brought me along for the ride and while I can't say every issue does as well as the rest, I'm still waiting to see what the ultimate outcome is for Cap. In this issue we see Steve begin to balance the needs of both SHEILD and HYDRA.

Grade: B+


Curse Words #2
Credit: Image Comics

One of the things I love is discovering a new creator-owned series. When I picked up the first issue, I didn't really plan on adding this to my reading list each month. But now that I'm two issues in, I'm enjoying it pretty well and like the well-placed humor that's paced throughout the book.

Grade: A


PULL LIST

DC Comics
  • Action Comics #974 by Dan Jurgens, Patch Zircher, Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, Ulises Arreola, & Rob Leigh
  • Batman: Night of the Monster Men HC by Steve Orlando, Tom King, Tim Seeley, James Tynion IV, Riley Rossmo, Rogue Antonio, Andy MacDonald, Ivan Plascencia, Chris Sotomayor, John Rauch, Deron Bennett, Carlos M. Mangual, & Marilyn Patrizio
  • Detective Comics #951 by James Tynion IV, Christian Duce, Alex Sinclair, & Sal Cipriano
  • Justice League of America #1 by Steve Orlando, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, Julio Ferreira, Marcelo Maiolo, & Clayton Cowles
  • The Kamandi Challenge #2 by Peter J. Tomasi, Neal Adams, Hi-Fi, & Clem Robins
  • Wonder Woman #17 by Greg Rucka, Liam Sharpe, Laura Martin, & Jodi Wynne

Marvel Comics
  • Captain America: Steve Rogers #12 by Nick Spencer, Javier Pina, Andres Guinaldo, Scott Hanna, Rachelle Rosenberg, & VC's Joe Caramagna

Image Comics
  • Curse Words #2 by Charles Soul, Ryan Browne, Michael Garland, Michael Parkinson, & Chris Crank

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Wess Reads Comics - Week of 2/15/17

Each week, Wess grabs a few issues from his stack of comics to share his thoughts with you. If you're looking for a place for brief, initial impressions, then this is it! Have questions about books that Wess didn't review? Then leave a comment below!


Nightwing #15

Credit: DC Comics
To/Sotomator
Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Minkyu Jung & Chris Sotomayor
Letters by: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Art by: Marcus To & Chris Sotomayor
Published by: DC Comics

Every so often, typically at the end of storylines, I'll step back and reevaluate how many books I'm reading each week and which ones I want to keep pulling. Nightwing has been on double-secret probation for a while. Ever since the beginning of Rebirth, I've felt it's just missed a lot of the impact of so many other books out there. So this issue was going to be it. The Epilogue to the "Blüdhaven" storyline was going to be the last Nightwing issue I was going to get for a while.

And then I read it.

At the end of a storyline with some D-list villains (and that's generous), Nightwing finds himself in a relationship with an old villain, The Defacer (Shawn Tsang). Throughout the issue, we get to see Dick talk about his relationship in different stages to various team members. While I was disappointed that we haven't arrived at a Dick Grayson/Barbara Gordon romance (#TeamDickara), I was willing to give this girl a chance. And through the issue I came to really like the interaction between the two of them and start to wonder what their future would look like. I don't want to spoil the ending so I'll just say the ending was extremely surprising and ultimately is keeping me a Nightwing reader for the time being.

Grade: B+


Credit: DC Comics
Jimenez/Sanchez
Super Sons #1
Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Jorge Jimenez & Alejandro Sanchez
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Cover Art by: Jimenez & Sanchez
Published by: DC Comics

I've been waiting for this comic to come out every since it was announced with Rebirth. The idea that you have these two, very young superheroes was very intriguing to me. You have Damien, who was raised most of his life to be a killer by Ra's & Talia al Ghul before coming to live with Bruce and serves as a vigilante as the current Robin. Then you have Jon: the son of one of the most straight-laced people on the planet and the most tenacious news reporter to ever work for the Daily Planet. They are opposite in so many ways but with the set up in 'Superman' and now in 'Super Sons' you get to see how they complement each other and, ultimately, that they both need each other. Since Bruce and Clark have a strained relationship, this could ultimately be what helps bring them together to be the friends that we want them to be.

In the first issue, we get to see Damien flex his muscles as the Alpha of the duo; coaxing Jon into situations he wants to avoid because he just wants to be a good son and please his parents. The dynamic between them is great with Damien wanting to be first and fancies himself a mentor to Jon while Jon isn't going to take anything lying down and wants to remind Damien as often as possible that he does, in fact, have super powers. A great read so far and I can't wait to see where this duo goes.

Grade: A



PULL LIST

DC Comics
  • Action Comics Vol. 1 - Path of Doom TPB by Dan Jurgens, Patch Zircher, Tyler Kirkham, Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, Tomeu Morey, Ulises Arreola, Arif Prianto, & Rob Leigh
  • Batman #17 by Tom King, David Finch, Danny Miki, Jordie Bellaire, & John Workman
  • Batwoman: Rebirth #1 by Marguerite Bennett, James Tynion IV, Steve Epting, Jeromy Cox, & Deron Bennett
  • Green Lanterns #17 by Sam Humphries, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, Blond, & Dave Sharpe
  • Justice League #15 by Bryan Hitch, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Brad Anderson, Richard Starkings, & Comicraft
  • Nightwing #15 by Tim Seeley, Minkyu Jung, Chris Sotomayor, & Carlos M. Mangual
  • Super Sons #1 by Peter J. Tomasi, Jorge Jimenez, Alejandro Sanchez, & Rob Leigh
  • Superman #17 by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Sebastián Fiumara, Dave Stewart, & Rob Leigh
  • Trinity #6 by Francis Manapul, Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Matt Santorelli, Hi-Fi, & Steve Wands
  • The Wild Storm #1 by Warren Ellis, Jon Davis-Hunt, Ivan Plascencia, & Simon Bowland

Marvel Comics

  • Captain America: Steve Rogers #11 by Nick Spencer, Jesús Saiz, Scott Hanna, Rachelle Rosenberg, VC's Joe Caramagna
  • The Clone Conspiracy #5 by Dan Scott, Jim Cheung, John Dell, Jay Leisten, Justin Sponsor, & VC's Joe Caramagna

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

​ Ep. 059 - THE BATMAN UPDATE, SUPERBOWL TV SHOTS, & MORE!!

Now that Batfleck is no longer in the director's seat, who will direct The Batman? Also, there were a bunch of tv spots from the Super Bowl and Wess rants about Marvel comics!


Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Wess Reads Comics - Week of 2/8/17

Each week, Wess grabs a few issues from his stack of comics to share his thoughts with you. If you're looking for a place for brief, initial impressions, then this is it! Have questions about books that Wess didn't review? Then leave a comment below!

Credit: DC Comics
Mann/Anderson
Action Comics #973
Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Patch Zircher, Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, & Arif Prianto
Published by: DC Comics

While all around I've not really read anything I haven't liked in Rebirth, 'Action Comics' has been the weakest of the two Superman titles. While 'Superman' has had a lot of heart and features some great moments between Clark and his son, 'Action' has just lacked a little more. We've went from a battle between Supes, Doomsday, & Lex Luthor, to him teaming up and rescuing Lex from an alien world. While these stories were fairly exciting in themselves, they didn't get me excited for the future and what was to come. 

Luckily that changed this week. One common thread that's been lingering for almost a year is who is this other, non-powered, seemingly non-Kryptonian running around? Something has been really off about him from the beginning and now Lois is determined to get to bottom of it. First off, this is one of the first issues in a LONG while in which we get to see Lois in her element; undercover and chasing a story. This is the Lois Lane we all know and love from some of the best Superman stories. So she's not going to take things lying down when fake-Clark gets in her crosshairs. In this issue there is even more intrigue that's added to this mystery and hopefully we'll only have to wait until the next issue to find out who this guy is. All the while, it feels that this story is leading directly to the next big Superman crossover, "Superman Reborn". 

The only downside to this issue is that if you haven't read, or are at least familiar with, what's been happening over in 'Superwoman', then Steel's appearance will feel a little jarring.

Grade: B+


Credit: DC Comics
Barrows/Ferreira/Lucas
Detective Comics #950
Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Marcio Takara, Dean White, Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Brad Anderson, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, & Adriano Lucas
Published by: DC Comics

This has been one of the biggest surprises for me from the beginning of Rebirth. James Tynion IV has been able to create some great moments with Batman and his team while continuing some huge stories set up by his time with 'Batman & Robin Eternal'. The scope and scale of his stories in 'Detective' only grow each issue. Now that we've landed at a landmark 950th issue, Tynion gets to prep multiple, epic stories to be played out in 2017.

The first story line is the "League of Shadows" which looks to be heavily tied to Orphan's mother. What links does she have to Ra's al Ghul and will this tie in at all to Damien's confrontations with him from 'Teen Titans'? While those questions aren't answered, what we do get is a great profile of Cassandra Cain, Orphan. Which is great for the reader because Orphan barely says two words to her team. It's a great look inside her head which will only pay off immensely if we're dealing with a story of her past and connection to the League.

In the second story we have a great setup for a future Azrael story with him and Batwing. While there's a decent amount of exposition by Azrael here to familiarize us even more with the Order of St. Dumas, you start to get a feel for what these two will bring to the team. BTW, does anyone know what Batman is calling this team of his? JLB: Justice League Bat? The Legion of Bat People? Bat-Team? Someone get on that.

In the third and final chapter of this issue, we get a flashback to a confrontation between Red Robin and Bats (hey, look, Batman is in this issue!). Red Robin has questions around what Batman is up to. Why he has Nightwing and Red Hood out in the field, why he's assembled this team in Gotham, and why he's assembling his own Justice League? He surmises that Batman is preparing for a war, but what war? Could this be connected to inevitable DC/Watchmen face-off? Or is there some other threat that Batman knows about that he isn't ready to share yet. It looks like we'll find out sometime this year.

One of the other added bonuses of having an issue like this is seeing three different art teams and how their style lends itself to each story. While all three are great, I'm becoming more and more of a fan of Eddy Barrows, who was the opening artist in 'Detective Comics' since Rebirth.

Grade: A


PULL LIST

DC Comics
  • Action Comics #973 by Dan Jurgens, Patch Zircher, Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, & Arif Prianto
  • All-Star Batman #7 by Scott Snyder, Tula Lotay, & Francesco Francavilla
  • Detective Comics #950 by James Tynion IV, Marcio Takara, Dean White, Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Brad Anderson, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, & Adriano Lucas
  • Justice League of America Rebirth #1 by Steve Orlando, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, * Marvel Maiolo
  • Justice League/Power Rangers #2 by Tom Taylor & Stephen Byrne
  • Wonder Woman #16 by Greg Rucka, Bilquis Evely, Mark Morales, Andrew Hennessy, Raul Fernandez, & Romulo Fajardo Jr
  • Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1 - Sinestro's Law TPB by Robert Venditti, Rafa Sandoval, Ethan Van Sciver, Jordi Tarragona, Jason Wright, & Tomeu Morey

Marvel Comics

  • Jessica Jones #5 by Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Gaydos, & Matt Hollingsworth

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Wess Reads Comics - Week of 2/1/17

Each week, Wess grabs a few issues from his stack of comics to share his thoughts with you. If you're looking for a place for brief, initial impressions, then this is it! Have questions about books that Wess didn't review? Then leave a comment below!

Batman #16
Written by: Tom King
Art by: David Finch & Jordie Bellaire
Published by: DC Comics

Tom King continues his soon-to-be-classic run on Batman as he begins an arc he's been building to for a while in 'I Am Bane' by bringing most of the Bat-family together. And by bringing them together I mean grabbing some burgers? As Bruce prepares to batten down the hatches for Bane's arrival in Gotham, he, the Robins, and Duke meet at a Batburger to receive marching orders. Here, each panel is funnier than the last as we see Bruce come to grips with other profiting off of his crusade (and making light of it), one of the best scenes we've ever seen between Dick, Jason, and Damian; and the stunning revelation that....SPOILERS....Bruce eats his hamburger with a fork and knife. After reading through this scene, I want nothing more than a 'Robins' book that features Dick, Jason, and Damian hanging out all the time. Especially with Jason's tragic past and dark dealings, I forget sometimes how comfortable he can be around his brothers. At the same time, it is a little sad to think about how these young men might have lived if it had not been for the tragedies in their lives and the indoctrination by the Batman. The issue does end on a cliff-hanger that I won't reveal here, other than to say, I'm sure it gets resolved on the first panel of the next issue (which would be my only complaint about the issue). 

Short version: I absolutely loved this issue and will probably reread it a few times before it gets stored away. If you're not reading Batman, now is the time to jump on; although you should probably read issues #1-15 first to clear some things up.

Grade: A+


PULL LIST

DC Comics
  • Batman #16 by Tom King, David Finch, & Jordie Bellaire
  • Detective Comics Vol. 1 - Rise of the Batmen TPB by James Tynion IV, Al Barrionuevo, Raúl Fernández, Ever Ferreira, & Eddy Barrows
  • Green Lanterns #16 by Sam Humphries, Neil Edwards, Jay Leisten, Keith Champagne, & Blond
  • Justice League #14 by Bryan Hitch, Daniel Henriques, & Alex Sinclair
  • Nightwing #14 by Tim Seeley, Marcus To, & Chris Sotomayor
  • Superman #16 by Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi, Tony Daniel, Clay Mann, Sandu Florea, Seth Mann, & Dines Ribeiro

Marvel Comics
  • Darth Maul #1 by Cullen Bunn, Luke Ross, & Nolan Woodard