NewsOK Comics Podcast: Captain America Reborn 3, Blackest Night 3, Archie 601
Two of the year’s biggest series hit their third issue, and Archie ties the knot. Listen to Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss the eternal question, “Betty or Veronica”?
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 2, Supergirl Annual 1, Torch 1
Things light up with Torch #1, and it’s the end of the world as we know it in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2. In Supergirl Annual 1, find out the origin of Superwoman and visit a day in the life of Linda Lang.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Supergirl 44, X-Men Legacy 227, Wolverine Weapon X 4 and Archie 600
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss how you can’t always judge a comic book by its cover, as they review Supergirl 44, X-Men Legacy 227, Wolverine Weapon X 4 and Archie 600.
Quick comic book reviews, for the week of 8/19/09
Some mini-reviews on some comics from this week, including Archie #600, Superman: Blackest Night #1, Supergirl #44 and Wolverine: Weapon X #4.
Archie #600 - Archie gets engaged! It seems like it’s sort of a What If? or It’s A Wonderful Life kind of scenario, though. Written by Michael Uslan and drawn by Stan Goldberg, this was a perfectly accessible Archie issue that was fun to read. Upon graduation from college, Archie realizes his friends are going their separate ways, and somewhat impulsively proposes to Veronica. Looking forward to how it progresses, and if there is in fact a follow-up in which Archie marries Betty.
Review: Captain America Reborn 2
The time-lost Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, is at the center of Captain America Reborn 2. Rogers has come unstuck in time, and jumps through his own personal history in the World War II era, reliving key moments, but unable to affect them. Meanwhile, in the present, the new Captain America faces off against Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers. Also, the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards finds a curious clue.
Writer Ed Brubaker, whose Captain America run has largely stayed out of the bigger Marvel crossover events, gets pulled definitively into Dark Reign in this issue. The way Brubaker writes it, it’s as if it had been planned all along. More is revealed about the Red Skull’s overall plan, and Osborn approaches Crossbones and Sin to get in on the deal.
The flashbacks to Cap’s past bring readers up to speed about what’s so great about the character Steve Rogers. It works as a primer while seeming fresh. Meanwhile, the modern Cap, the former Bucky, shows how he’s grown as a hero through Brubaker’s run.
Artist Bryan Hitch’s art is solid, but really shines in the World War II era battle scenes. Hitch is working with Butch Guice on the series, and the artwork is pretty seamless.
Reborn fits in well with the Captain America saga Brubaker has been chronicling in the regular title for more than 50 issues, and is a successful outing especially for those who have been patiently awaiting Steve Rogers’ return.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Ultimatum 5, Detective Comics 855, X-Men Forever 4 and Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps 3
Tiny Wolverine guest-stars as Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss big Wolverine’s absence in other Marvel titles this week. Also: Detective Comics 855 and a Blackest Night tie-in.
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Captain America 601, Phantom Generations 3, Blackest Night 1
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss this week’s comics, including Captain America 601, Phantom Generations 3 and Blackest Night 1. Kyle must deal with his fear of zombies and vampires.
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Wednesday Comics
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price discuss DC Comics’ newspaper-style weekly experiment, Wednesday Comics.
NewsOK Comics Podcast: X-Men Forever 2, Dark Avengers X-Men Utopia, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Detective Comics 854
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including X-Men Forever 2, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Dark Avengers/X-Men Utopia and Detective Comics 854. Note: I talked about Silvestri drawing a “whole comic” in Utopia, when in fact he had assistance from several other Top Cow folks.
Review: Batwoman wows in Detective Comics 854
Greg Rucka and JH Williams III kick off the Batwoman storyline with a bang in “Detective Comics” 854. Williams hasn’t lost a step from “Promethea,” and is one of the most interesting artists working today. If 
you’re on the fence about this, I suggest you just pick up a copy and look at it. Rucka’s story is interesting – continuing the “Crime Bible” saga, it appears, and exploring the personality of Kate Kane, first introduced with much fanfare in “52.” But the obvious selling point of the book is the art. Williams is brilliant in layout and composition, experimental yet completely clear in his storytelling.
The black and red color palate from Dave Stewart as “Detective” opens draws you into Gotham City; Todd Klein, one of comics’ most prestigious letterers, completes the package.
The backup story, by Rucka and Cully Hamner, follows the new Question, Renee Montoya. It’s just 8 pages, but sets up what looks to be an interesting yarn.
- Matt Price
