Deadman and the Flying Graysons #1

Writer: J.T. Krul
Penciller: Mikel Janin
Inker: Mikel Janin

Colorist: Ulises Arreola 
Letterer: Patrick Brosseau
Cover Art: Cliff Chang & Jared Fletcher

Assistant Editor: Sean Mackiewicz
Editor: Pat McCallum

The Show Must Go On

This was by far my favorite of the Flashpoint companion books.  In a world where Bruce Wayne never became Batman Dick Grayson also never became Robin.  


You get to see the life that Dick would have had if his parents were never murdered and raised him themselves.  It was also interesting to see Boston Brand in the mix.  The character has really come to prominence recently.  Some things must subconsciously bleed through from the original reality as Dick is garbed in a Nightwing-esque costume as his stage attire.

Doctor Fate plays a prominent part as well as his helmet seems to be of great interest to Diana and the Amazons.  In fact the Amazonian search for said artifact leaves us with a foreboding feeling about the fate of Dick Grayson and family.

Legion of Doom #1

Writer: Adam Glass
Penciller: Rodney Buchemi
Inker: Jose Marzan Jr

Colorist: Arthur Fujita
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Art: Miguel Sepulveda & Jose Villarrubia

Assistant Editor: Sean Mackiewicz
Editor: Pat McCallum

Hot Blooded




For the most part I was bored with this issue.  Not much interesting happens.  Even the death of Jason Rusch had no build up and left me not really caring.

For the most part the issue is Heatwave in prison after he kills Jason Rusch and is captured by Cyborg.  The fight between Cyborg and Heatwave is very cliche, complete with the 'just in time' arrival and the classic 'stopping a train'.  Cyborg seems so far to have more build up than substance.

There was one thing however that did manage to grab my interest at the end.  Plastic Man, Eel O'Brian, was smuggled into the prison inside of Cluemaster and proceeds to exit his host... painfully.  The last two pages and especially the last one made the book worth reading.  Plastic Man had a very cool and sinister look to him and I really want to see what this version of him does next.

Wonder Woman and the Furies #1

Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Penciller: Scott Clark
Inker: Dave Beaty

Colorist: Nei Ruffino
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Cover Art: Ed Benes with Pete Pantazis

Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Editor: Brian Cunningham

Part 1- The Arrangement




An interesting new take on Wonder Woman.  In the altered timeline rather than going out into the world to be a champion of justice Diana and her amazonian furies wage war against Aquaman and the atlanteans.

Rather than Steve Trevor in need of rescue being Diana's first contact with the outside world it was Aquaman saving her from a kraken.  The amazons are grateful to the king of atlantis for saving Diana and both civilizations decide to help the world with their wisdom and advances.  To solidify their effort the two nations would be joined by the marriage of Diana and Arthur.

There are traitors on both sides as an assasination attempt on Diana's life is carried out by Artemis, who instead accidently kills Hippolyta.  She frames Garth for the murder and kills him before he can reveal the truth that Arthur's brother Orm is in league with Artemis to stop the union.

We've seen the seed that the war between the amazons and the atlanteans sprang from, I'm intrigued to see the rest of its evolution.

Grodd of War #1

Writer: Sean Ryan
Penciller: IG Guara
Inker: Ruy Jose

Colorist: Stephani Rennee
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Art: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato

Assistant Editor: Kate Stewart
Editor: Joey Cavalieri

I have always been a fan of stories told from the point of view of the villain.  Grodd of War lived up to my hopes for it.  The story addresses the question of what happens when the conquerer has nothing left to conquer and the warrior has nothing left to wage war on.  

I suppose in Grodd's case, getting there was more than half the fun.  Grodd seems to have come to the realization that it's the conquest, the fight, the violence that fuels him and makes life worth living.   Old soldiers are not meant for peace and the boredom that comes in a life after struggle and combat. 

Grodd has an attempt on his life that he believes to have been coordinated by his aide, Malavar, but he lets him live and does not let on that he is aware of the treachery.   Grodd is tired of life without a worthy fight and hopes that Malavar will try again and succeed.  Grodd also allows one of the young humans who tried to assassinate him to live after mind controlling him into killing his friends.  He tells the boy to grow up hating him and to one day kill him.

Grodd, hoping to die in a blaze of glory, decides to take on both Wonder Woman and her Amazon Furies and Aquaman and the Atlanteans.  The book started off on solid footing and I am looking forward to the next issue.

Teen Titans #96

Writer: J.T. Krul
Penciller: Jose Luis

Inker: Sandro Ribeiro & Jonad Trindade

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Art: Scott & Hazlewood with Wright

Assistant Editor: Ricky Purdin

Editor: Rachel Gluckstern

Beast of Legend

While overall a straight forward slugfest the issue shines a spotlight on an underrated character as Beast Boy takes center stage against demon king Rankor and his hoarde of demons.    Beast Boy demonstrates a level of power never before hinted at and manages to go to toe with a demon king and hold his own.

Beast Boy has help from newbie Solstice, whom Raven gets a bad reaction from, and manages to free his friends.  Solstice realizes it is her destiny to face Rankor the demon king.  I couldn't help but think of Return of the Jedi every time I read that name.

The issue leads up to the climactic battle between Solstice and Rankor and leaves us waiting to see who wins.

Overall it was an entertaining read and I really enjoyed seeing Beast Boy shine.  He has been an underrated character for a long time and its good to see him use his potential.  I'm looking forward to next issue.

Supergirl #65

Writer: Kelly Sue Deconnick

Penciller: Chriscross

Inker: Marc Deering

Colorist: Blond

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Cover Art: Mahmud Asrar & Guy Major

Editor: Wil Moss

This Is Not My Life- Part 1 of 3

In general I was a little disappointed in this issue.  After the excitement of the last story arc this one falls a little flat.  The silk pajama society, I mean come on.  

I did like the interaction between Kara and Lois though.  Lois' failed attempts at humor gave me a chuckle, but otherwise the supporting cast of the issue is rather annoying.  Hopefully this story will pick up a bit in part two.

Batgirl #22

Writer: Brian Q. Miller

Penciller: Pere Perez

Inker: Pere Perez

Colorist: Guy Major

Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Art: Dustin Nguyen

Assistant Editor: Katie Kubert

Editor: Janelle Asselin

Five Minutes Fast

From an artistic standpoint I love the bookends made by the first and last pages of the story.

As Stephanie is sent abroad on a mission from Batman under an alias she encounters Beryl Hutchinson, better known as Squire.  The interplay between the two of them is great.  Stephanie is trying to be serious and focused and taking her mission from Batman very seriously, while squire prefers to hide in plain sight and not be so stuffy.

When innocents are threatened its time for Batgirl and Squire to save the day, and ultimately the world.  The Orphan, a villain of Knight and Squire's (who is a bad walking Charles Dickins joke) has opened a rift in time with the Greenwich Mean (its a thing apparently).  Orphan stops time in an attempt to kill Knight. Batgirl and Squire save the innocents, who were left with bombs strapped to them that only the pausing of time was preventing from blowing them to tiny bits.  They went on to defeat the bad guy and save Knight, and the world by closing the time rift and sealing the Greenwich Mean.

The girls share a bonding moment and its nice to see Stephanie enjoy herself after all the crap she's had to go through.  But then its back to business as Batman shows up to lead us to the crossover in Batman Incorporated #9.