Wess Reads Comics - Week of 1/11/17

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

Justice League/Power Rangers #1
Written by: Tom Taylor
Art By: Stephen Byrne
Published by: DC Comics & BOOM! Studios

Growing up I used to love to watch the original Power Rangers. The Zords, their weapons (which they never used enough), villains like Lord Zedd; I just couldn't get enough. So when DC announced a Justice League/Power Rangers crossover, I was sold. DC has had some great collaborations so far. Batman/TMNT was an awesome read and I've heard great things about Green Lantern/Star Trek. While we don't see most of the League in this first issue, it does a pretty good job of setting up the premise for why these guys are all in the same place. It's not overly complicated and maybe a little simple at times but it's a great start and we get a glimpse of a grown-up tone for the Rangers. If you are a Rangers fan, then this should be a must-read for you.

Grade: B

Credit: DC Comics

Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #4
Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Alex Sinclair, & Jeremiah Skipper
Published by: DC Comics

Now that we're more than halfway through our first "Rebirth-era" event, things are finally starting to pick up. While this mini series hasn't been bad, it's just moved a little slow and we haven't gotten a lot of payoff...until this issue. We get some great moments in this issue that answers the question of "how is this team of B-list super villains going to fight the Justice League & Suicide Squad?". The answer: Johnny Sorrow. He has some bad-ass moments and there's a great interaction between him, Harley Quinn, & Wonder Woman. We also get some more plot development by finding out what Maxwell Lorde is finally after and what he plans to do with it. The next two issues look promising to help finish a good first effort in this event mini series.
Additional note: Don't fight Batman when he realizes you can regenerate.

Grade: B+

Credit: Marvel Comics

Jessica Jones #4
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Michael Gaydos

If you've ever read or watched Jessica Jones before, then you can appreciate a lot of the character moments in this series and issue so far. One of things that's great about this so far is that you get to see a side of Jessica that is a twist on her typical personality. You also discover in this issue some revelations about Jessica and her situation that are not what they appear. Another fun thing about this series is that it exists squarely in the Marvel Universe and isn't immune to what's happening in other books and event series, but it isn't driven by them. Jessica's story is much more personal and important to her than any Civil War or whatever else is happening to the other heroes that her focus is on what's happening in front of her in her world.

Grade: A


PULL LIST

DC Comics
Action Comics #971 by Dan Jurgens, Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert, & Arif Prianto
All-Star Batman #6 by Scott Snyder, Jock, Franco Francavilla, Matt Hollingsworth
Batman Vol. 1 - I Am Gotham TPB
Dark Knight III: The Master Race Book 7 - Collector's Edition by Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello, Andy Kubert,
Klaus Janson, Brad Anderson, & Alex Sinclair
Detective Comics #948 by James Tynion IV, Marguerite Bennett, & Ben Oliver
Justice League of America: Vixen - Rebirth #1 by Steve Orlando, Jody House, & Jamal Campbell
Justice League/Power Rangers #1 by Tom Taylor & Stephen Byrne
Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #4 by Joshua Williamson, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Alex Sinclair, & Jeremiah Skipper
Wonder Woman #14 by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, & Romula Fajardo Jr.

Marvel
Captain America: Steve Rogers #9 by Nick Spencer, Javier Pina, Andres Guinaldo, & Rachelle Rosenberg
Jessica Jones #4 by Brian Michael Bendia, Michael Gaydos, and Matt Hollingsworth