Oz' 2-Cent Reviews for the first half of November (1 of 2)

Thor: God of Thunder #1:  A book that finally lives up to the name.  Aaron is on fire currently in the Marvel U and this book keeps adding the coals!  Issue 1:  deicide!

Avengers Academy #39:  I'm really sad to see this book go, especially at this point.  The new characters have finally started to get their footing but alas, Marvel Comics is a business and as such, are always moving forward.  There's no room for blossoming weed's in this industry of high profile movie characters and that sucks for this book.  Fans of the characters will have no choice but to follow an entirely new creative team in the next chapter of this series, AVENGERS ARENA.

Wolverine & The X-Men #20:  This is usually the first book I read in my pile.  It's exciting x-adventure that fills the nostalgia-fix and features sane x-storylines (yes, they do exist) not convoluted with years of banal, unnecessary backwash.  Jason Aaron bitch, recognize!

Two more issues and this series wraps up for its third incarnation.

 Uncanny X-Force #33:  AoA Nightcrawler both scared and aroused me in this issue.  I won't say too much but....fuck balls!  "Sir...the calls.  The calls are coming from inside your....stomach!!!"

X-Factor #246:  Series issue of the YEAR!!!  We finally get insights on Pip's own day to day activities in the offices of X-Factor Investigations and...the little guy goes a long way.  The last page left me with boxer stains.

Worlds' Finest #6:  You would think that a book written by Levits, (partly) penciled by George "The God" Perez and features Damian Wayne would leave me with a pleasant feeling...and it does!  BUT!  I'm just sooo tired of the introspection.  We GET IT, you're lost souls on a world you don't recognize but your womanly strength will help you persevere.  I've understood this msg for the OTHER 6 issues.  Can we stop wasting panel and caption space with all this and do something?  Robin (IV) was a treat and the art is great, but man, let's get something solid going here.

Batman & Robin #14:  I enjoyed this book mainly because it kept making me laugh.  It depicted how fucked up and dangerous the streets of Gotham can be, without even the use of a villain.  Gleason/Tomasi still have my trust on this book.

Green Lantern #14:  I really felt like I was reading the Justice League book with this one.  Obviously it features them, as the newest GL makes his getaway.  Some really cool scenes where Baz leaves Flash in the dust and earns the admiration of Superman himself.  Rise of the third army has been a bit boring, but the characters in the GL world keep me coming back.

Green Lantern Corps #14:  I have to be honest and say that I was very close to dropping this book.  This, however, is the issue that saves it.  Nothing much new or shocking goes down, it's just that there is more focus on the characters and the plot is finally advancing.  I'd usually expect more from one of my fav scribes Tomasi, but I think he's finally found the directions to "THIS is how you write a good GLC" road.

Dial H #6:  The break or as I like to call it, the "happy hour" issue.  This is the type where a comic book is in between story arcs and plots so the characters enjoy some down-time.  A good writer always knows to give his characters a breather, while at the same time keep things interesting and moving for the audience.  Shit is going down for our resident tubster and the title can move on to it's next thing.  Issue 6 has got itself one satisfied customer (pssst!  it's me!).

Earth 2 #6:  YAWN!  Great art, great character re-imaginings but ffs how long does Robinson need for this story arc??  It takes place in the same exact SETTING for 6 straight issues with the same statements spewing forth from characters in a forever-loop.  This is called BAD decompression.  I'm not sure what DC is thinking here, I'm only sticking around because of my love for the characters and creator (no s required, it's just Nicola Scott).  But what about newer readers?  This would be a complete turn off to them and it instils the stigma of comic books being a never-ending slow drudge of captions and speech bubbles.  Wake the fuck up DC.

This is the infamous issue where Lemire takes shots at Liefeld's failed DCnU titles in retaliation for  all the negative tweets Rob wrote about his good friend Scott Snyder

Animal Man #14:  Rotworld - The Red Kingdom part 2!  Not since Blackest Night has there been a crossover in DC that has had me this saturated with satisfaction.  I'm busting, Jerry, I'm BUSTING!  I won't even say a single thing about this because I want you to go out and buy Animal Man.  What issue?  ALL OF THEM!  Go...I said go!!!

Swamp Thing #14:  Rotworld - The Green Kingdom part 2!  What the hell are you still doing here reading this review??  It goes for Swamp Thing as well!  Stop crying about buying crappy comics and go get a good one!  These two!  GO!!!!

End of Part 1

I'm coming back bitches!

Despite a dispute I had with Google, fuck IT!  I'm bringing this baby back mainly because I love our main website comicbooknerdsarehot.com and respect all the hard work the administrative team does there.  Time to be a part of things again!

First thing that will be coming back is my infamous 2 Cent Reviews!  So watch out for em!

And finally, here's a little something for now....

Adventure Time!!! does impressions

Hmmm....

2 Cent Reviews for 21-12-11

X-Factor #229  -  Welcome to the multiverse Madrox, now DIE!  What a wacky issue!  That morbid ending is hilarious.  The entire issue is one straight mind fuck.  X-Factor gets back to level awesome and even the art has improved.

Wolverine and the X-Men #3 - The strongest point of this book is the character interaction.  However the resolution felt a bit forced if not completely unexpected and nutty.  Bachalo's art serves as a good medium to nostalgia but I am looking forward Bradshaw's pencils next issue because I typically like to understand what it is I'm looking. 

Uncanny X-Force #19 - I'm super glad they didn't kill Angel last month.  They did however, turn him into boring, Amnesia Lad.  Sorry buddy but I guess there isn't always room for jello.

Justice League #4 - Best issue of the series so far.  So innovative and filled to the brim with surgically sharp dialogue.  A Justice League comic of epic standards.  Worth the 3.99.

Green Lantern Corps #4 - Tomasi is the master of all things green lantern.  The sooner you accept this fact, the less amount of crappy comics you will read.  This issue had all the things that I love about the previous GLC run; character development, sloppy bloody death, Guy Gardner being an aggressive dick and a guest appearance that expanded my penis with joy.  As pre the Brightest Day era of DC, GLC has quickly become my fav Lantern book again.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #4 - A fast ride, fast dialogue and plenty of action.  This one went by with the blink of an eye.  Not amazing, but ok.

New Mutants #35 - Did I ever mention that I love Blink?  This issue has plenty of her and her newly blossoming friendship with Dani.  Sub-par art that only gets saved by the writing.

Generation Hope #14 - Who allowed this comic to be all of a sudden awesome??  How did they miss for 12 issues straight and then kick major ass for the last two?  Finally, if you're a Martha the Mutant Brain fan, DON'T miss this one.

Thunderbolts #167:  Trippy issue, heavy on the mystical.  The Underbolts move through time yet again.  And Ghost hitches a ride.

Legion of Super-Heroes #4:  Rookie win.  The Legion sends the Dominators home with their tails between their legs.  Meanwhile, Brainy is trying to wrap his head around the concept of magic.

Wonder Woman #4:  Diana is hurt after last issue's revelation.  But that's nothing compared to a scorned Hera.  Amends are made on all fronts but come too late for some.

X-23 #19:   Never trust an Elder of the Universe.  Hellion and X learn that lesson the hard way.  Afterwards, Laura and Julian have a talk.  Also, a final page guesting from everybody's favorite vamp scamp, Jubilee.

Oz' 2-Cent Review for the week of 14-12-11

Uncanny X-Force #18 - Jerome Opena is an artistic God. I always feel steamrolled by his art. As for the rest of the issue, spoilers - our boy lives.

The Walking Dead Volume 15 - The aftermath of the last slaughterama arrives. Carl's position here is very reminiscent of where his TV show adaption was at recently. I wonder if that was planned. A good read but overall a pretty relaxed arc. Kirkman still packs the six issues with plenty of character development as personalities shift and relationships blossom. A new romance also sparks up as a nice last page surprise, ending things on a happier note rather then the usual shock.

Frankenstein Agent of Shade #4 - The conclusion to a fun arc. Nothing epic here yet still a nice foundation is set up for what ought to be a pretty crazy book.

Green Lantern #4 - The book keeps going with the Sinestro in the lead direction and I like it. In fact, I wouldn't really mind if Green Lantern turned into a Sinestro Corps title seeing as how interesting and visually stimulating they always are.

Avengers Academy #23 - X-23 joins the academy as a new story arc begins to set. Lots of great panels. Raney's pencils also look a lot sharper then previous issues.

Demon Knights #4 - This book gets better with each issue. Also, it's a bonus to try and see all the interconnections this title shares with Stormwatch. This issue was Shining Knight centric as he engages with Merlin, lord of all perception. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that perhaps Merlin is in fact none other then Adam 1 from Stormwatch.

Batwoman #4 - Someone gets sliced in half in this issue and that someone is of the bat legacy. This book retains it's integrity as the storyline gets more serious and intense. Easily the book of the week.

Batman and Robin #4 - As Batman's past comes to bite him on the ass, Damian Wayne falls further into darkness. This arc really puts Jason Todd in mind as another troubled Robin struggles to find his place in the world.

Fables Volume 16 - What an unexpected resolution to such a dire threat. Honor prevails! This volume was super fun with all the F-Men appearances. Bufkin also makes his heroic return! Another awesome volume.

My March DCnU picks (Solicitations)

Like last month, here are the 18 DCnU books that survived my pull is with full solicitations:

ANIMAL MAN #7
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by TRAVEL FOREMAN and STEVE PUGH
Cover by TRAVEL FOREMAN
On sale MARCH 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
“Animal vs. Man” part 1! As the forces of the Rot continue to pursue The Bakers across the backwoods of America, Cliff and Buddy decide to get in some quality father-and-son time. Plus, Buddy has a terrifying vision of things to come!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art and cover by PATRICK GLEASON and MICK GRAY
On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Batman finally discovers NoBody’s lair and must confront Robin and NoBody in an explosive, brutal battle that will shake them all to their very core!

BATWOMAN #7
Written by J.H. WILLIAMS III and W. HADEN BLACKMAN
Art by AMY REEDER and ROB HUNTER
Cover by AMY REEDER
1:25 B&W Variant cover by AMY REEDER
On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
Six lives on converging courses that will change them forever...
Batwoman, in a hidden lair beneath Gotham Harbor, faces a horde of monsters inspired by urban legends led by Falchion, an evil mastermind.
Jacob Kane waits in agony for some sign of life.
Kate Kane tries to enjoy new romance as the werebeast Abbot begs for her help.
Maro, an enigmatic wizard, evokes an evil that all children fear: their own reflections in a darkened mirror.
Detective Maggie Sawyer is caught in a turf war between The Werebeast Cult and The Medusa Syndicate.
DEO Agent Cameron Chase struggles with a new operative who refuses to be controlled.
It’s all coming in “To Drown the World,” part 2.

DEMON KNIGHTS #7
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by DIOGENES NEVES and OCLAIR ALBERT
Cover by MIKE CHOI
On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
This is it! The walls have fallen, the battle is joined, and the only possible outcome is death...but the Demon Knights keep fighting! History has a grand destiny in store for this alliance of unlikely outcasts – should they survive this issue, that is! After all, beyond the mountains, on the road to Alba Sarum, greater evils than the Horde are lurking...

THE FLASH #7
Written by FRANCIS MANAPUL and BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Variant cover by DALE KEOWN
1:200 B&W Variant cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
On sale MARCH 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Captain Cold is back – and he’s more dangerous than ever! Seeking revenge on The Flash, he must convince the rest of the Rogues to reunite one last time. But what tore them apart before? And what did The Flash do to earn their deadly scorn? Find out here!

FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #7
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by ALBERTO PONTICELLI
Cover by J.G. JONES
On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
The siege on S.H.A.D.E. City comes to a bloody conclusion, and it may mean the end of the Creature Commandos! With the Hub under Humanid control and Nina’s evil monsters staging a coup, S.H.A.D.E. headquarters is in total disarray. But nothing can prepare Frankenstein for the terrible secret that lies beneath it all!

GREEN LANTERN #7
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
Cover by DOUG MAHNKE
Variant cover by IAN CHURCHILL
1:200 B&W variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE
On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
“The Secret of the Indigo Tribe,” part 1! The GL team of Hal Jordan and Sinestro must investigate a crime that leads them to the Indigo homeworld in deep space. And what they find there will not only shock them, but also change the way you look at Lantern lore!

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #7
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by CLAUDE ST. AUBIN and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale MARCH 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
In the aftermath of the bloody first arc of the series, John Stewart must bring the body of a fallen Lantern back to his family. But how can John tell them the truth: that he caused this Lantern’s death!

GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #7
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
1:25 B&W Variant cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
On sale MARCH 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
World breaker and sun killer: Invictus has come to remake us all into his vision of perfection – he just needs to burn everything in his path first. In the New Guardians’ most desperate hour, Red Lantern Bleez returns, but is even her rage a match for the wrath of a living god? All this and the origin of Invictus – and how it all ties back to Larfleeze!

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #7
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art and cover by MIKEL JANIN
On sale MARCH 28 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Straight off the shocking events of last month’s I, VAMPIRE #6, vampires across the world have gone berserk, attacking anyone and everyone with a pulse. Fearing her apocalyptic vision of the future has come to pass, Madame Xanadu mobilizes the team to intervene. But everything the JL Dark members know about how to slay a vampire is useless, for the world has changed. It’s a crossover that had to be, continuing into this month’s I, VAMPIRE #7!

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #7
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by AARON LOPRESTI and MATT RYAN
Cover by DAVID FINCH and RICHARD FRIEND
On sale MARCH 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
With the Signal Men defeated and Earth saved from certain annihilation, the members of Justice League International expected to bask in glory and appreciation. Such is not the case as a new threat, one far more dangerous than anyone dared suspect, emerges and attacks with dire results, forever altering the team and sending it in a bold, new and unexpected direction.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #7
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by GENE HA and GARY FRANK
Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
1:25 Variant cover by GARY FRANK
1:200 B&W Variant cover by JIM LEE
On sale MARCH 21 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED T
Combo pack edition: $4.99 US
Retailers: This issue will ship with three covers. Please see the order form for more information.
Now that the team’s origin story is complete, starting with this issue we shift to the present-day Justice League! What has changed? Who has joined the team since? Featuring artwork by Gene Ha, the story also reintroduces the team’s greatest champion: Steve Trevor!
Also starting in this issue: “The Curse of Shazam!” featuring a story by Geoff Johns and art by Gary Frank! Discover Billy Batson’s place in DC Comics – The New 52 as we reveal his all-new origin story!
This issue is also offered as a special combo pack edition, polybagged with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #7
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by CHRIS SPROUSE and KARL STORY
On sale MARCH 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Marooned in a lake of fire, Element Lad, Chemical Kid and Sun Boy face an ecological disaster of 31st-century proportions! And Dragonwing’s got troubles of her own – with her sister’s claws at her throat! Meanwhile, at the edges of United Planets space, the Dominators haven’t forgotten their humiliation at the Legion’s hands...and the next stage of their plan is about to explode!

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #7
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
On sale MARCH 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Red Hood is convinced that the super assassin Essence set him up in his battle against the Untitled...and Arsenal and Starfire are prepared to help him get some payback! Plus: The trio learn that the super-villain known as Crux might be a kindred spirit after all! And the murderous Suzie Shu waits in the wings for her revenge!

RESURRECTION MAN #7
Written by DAN ABNETT and ANDY LANNING
Art by FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
On sale MARCH 14 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
The Resurrection Man is on the run! Mitch Shelley was able to escape Arkham, but now Gotham City’s S.W.A.T. team is on his tail. And that’s not the only thing chasing after him...

STORMWATCH #7
Written by PAUL JENKINS
Art and cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
1:25 B&W Variant cover by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
On sale MARCH 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
They’ve come to steal Earth’s gravity! When a scientific experiment tears a hole in the barrier between dimensions, gravity miners from a forbidden universe invade our world! Can Stormwatch – with their ranks depleted after the cataclysmic events of last issue – find a way to repel alien excavators that shred our reality with every touch?

SWAMP THING #7
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
1:25 B&W Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
On sale MARCH 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
Moss fills lungs. Leaves scrape across skin and wood against bone. A Swamp Thing is rising in The Green’s hour of darkest need...but is Alec Holland a part of it? Or is he just bleeding out in a ditch? And as Alec falls, a horrible champion is taking the throne of the Bone Kingdom at Sethe’s right hand!

WONDER WOMAN #7
Written by BRIAN AZZARELLO
Art and cover by CLIFF CHIANG
1:25 B&W Variant cover by CLIFF CHIANG
On sale MARCH 21 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. The variant cover will feature the standard edition cover in a wraparound format.
Remember the myth of Orpheus? Wonder Woman certainly does. And we hope she’s learned its lessons well, because someone she dearly loves is in Hell’s clutches – and she’s the only one who can mount a rescue mission! But Hades has no mercy, even for his own family – in fact, especially for his own family – and he doesn’t intend to let her walk out of his domain without paying a terrible price!