Comic Book Round Up

Another round up, as I've done some more comic reading and need a place where my views are king. King I say! Or maybe not.

OMAC issue 3 -

Hmmm, iffy. I enjoyed the first two issues as they kicked along at a pretty break neck speed with murder and explosions galore. This issue had a lot more dialogue and I can't help but feel that it suffered as a result. Basically our hero ends up amidst three Las Vegas strippers and the way they talked seemed to have been lifted from a bad 80s movie.

What also cheesed me off (yes, I said cheesed, im bringing it back), was the air fight the OMAC has with some fighter planes. The whole thing was just confusing to read and not very exciting as we know the fucker is pretty much indestructible.

Liking the continued cameos of Cyborg and Firestorm but with a real threat of a Brother Eye resurgence wouldn't they be contacting some super team? I know you can argue that the Outsiders are considered dead and at this point the league aren't back together but how about the society?

Did we really need a flashback to infinite crisis? Probably not.

It all hinges on next issue as it really could pick right up again *fingers crossed*

Trials Of Shazam issue 1 -

So, I finally get to read one of the comics I've most eagerly looked forward to this year. Did I enjoy it? Yes... but it wasn't what I expected.

I've always seen Captain Marvel in other peoples comics and I consider this title as my chance to really get to know the Captain of Lightning and Thunder. As DC continually reminds us magic in the DCU universe has totally changed since IC, as Cap is composed of magic it's going to affect him severely, they weren't kidding.

Back to the issue itself, I like the artwork, it's kinda dreamy with the blurred edges and psychedelic colours but I definitely put this down as a plus as this is all about magic and stuff so it fits. Cap Marvel himself? It's not what im used to. Cap Marvel has always been, to me at least, the epitome of right and wrong. He's a bigger boy scout than Superman could ever be. Here though we see him making quips and chilling out, it does shake the image I have of the character but at the same time it actually brings some character to his, errrr... character.

I'll tell you this, as I was reading this issue I couldn't help but catch myself thinking this was the start of a Hellboy story. I can offer no higher praise.

Awesome (I really over use the word awesome) cameo from Zattana, possibly my fave magic wielding, fish net wearing super heroine.

That final page? I pity the fool who doesn't want to pick up issue 2.

Next Wave issues 3 and 4 -

I return to Marvels most hyped/praised comic of the moment (barring Runaways, but I haven't read that, so... whatever) and enjoyed the second visit more than the first.

Next Wave is a team book with a lot of levity, which is something the comic book world has been lacking for a long while. *Tangent alert!* Who have you got though? Seriously? Teen Titans are the youngest team on the block and they nearly get killed every week. The X-Men, as always remain a good read, but light hearted? Hardly. For my money, Young Justice was the best team book ever. *Tangent over!*

The team itself consists of five characters you may or may not have heard of, as they are all old characters from the Marvel back catalogue which haven't been used in an age. Those being - Photon, Boom Boom, Captain *******, Machine Man and Elsa Bloodstone. Of the five I only knew two so don't feel bad if you don't recognise them, their previous exploits matter not a jot to enjoying them here.

The first story saw them face off against Fing Fang Foom, which was great as he is sorely underused (how many Chinese demonic dragons do we have kicking around?) and the second (over these two issues) saw them take on a giant robot cop thingy. A good, fun read. What more do you want?

My favourite character so far? Captain *******. Obvious I know but he does rock.

Crisis Aftermath - The Spectre issue 3 -

This came out a while ago but I've only got round to reading it, what a mistake that was. This issue brings to an end the mini series which establishes our new Spectre post IC and what a cracker it is.

Im not going to go into the background of Allen as it takes more typing than im prepared to undertake but I will say that he is the ideal choice for the new Spectre host. Do I think the Spectre looks silly with a beard? Very much so but the writing makes it inconsequential.

After reading this im gagging for more Spectre exploits. If you didn't read this first time round, go pick them up and read them, the writing is awesome throughout and the character of the Spectre is explained and portrayed perfectly.

Comic I re-read just for the hell of it -

Kingdom Come TPB -

DCs finest hour? I love this story, love it. The world has gone to hell and one pastor and the Spectre take us through to possibly the end of the world, whos to blame? Superman, for his ten year absence? The new generation of heroes who have no sense of responsibility? Luthor and Co for progressively making the world a worse place to live? You decide.

The artwork is amazing, every panel is a well crafted painting. The rendition of the Flash here is my favourite of all time, hell, pretty much everyone here looks great. You also have each character (Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman) arguably better examined and defined than ever before.

Comic that's going to lead to some venting -

52 issue 18 -

Overall it was good but one bit wound me up, I'll be posting about that over in Are You Up To Test!? It's a cross promotional type of thing.

Till next time.