Justice League 3000: Reviewing issues 1-9

This is a spoiler-free review, so make yourself comfortable.

We've all heard about the imminent return of BLUE BEETLE & BOOSTER GOLD, yes, the real ones, the pre-New 52 ones (at least the ones I consider to be the "real" ones). They're supposed to appear in Justice League 3000 #12 and I just couldn't help it and had jump into the series from #1.

I remember reading the first issue back when it was first published, but it had a sour aftertaste since Kevin Maguire had been dumped from the book and the entire first issue got pencilled all over again by Howard Porter, who happened to be the one who actually designed these new characters. The creative team that reunited the original writers (Keith Giffen & J.M. DeMatteis) and penciller from the classic 80s-90s Justice League was simply gone. This whole mess turned into a deep dislike of what I read in the first issue at that moment.

Now, with a different perspective in sight, and realizing that the "New 52" tag had been removed from the series starting with issue 9, I had a better vibe towards this book. So, I went on reading. And whoa, what a reading, I enjoyed every bit of it. The characters are dead on and they're definitely not our regular Justice League. From an obnoxious Superman to a bloodthirsty Wonder Woman, and add an ironic Batman, a shy Green Lantern and a tragic Flash, we have quite a set. I mean, I don't love the idea of a bloodthirsty Wonder Woman (I hate her regular book), but this whole thing has a giant joke behind. Yeah, I think they're doing their best to recapture the sense of humor comics these days are so much lacking.

Yeah. Shake in your seats. This book is bringing humor back to the fold.

Who would have thought? After the entire mess of the New 52 that there was this book that was really doing its best to build a different tone, and it was going unnoticed! News and company politics threw most of us out of the door and didn't let us give this book a chance. Well, now it comes with my biggest recommendation.

My only complaint is the pace. Nine issues into the series and the first story-arc is still incomplete. But it will be coming to an end with issue 10, so, I will have to wait just a bit. (There's nothing I can do about the pace since that's the regular thing these days in the comic universe). But at least this is an enjoyable series. I even grew to like Howard Porter's style, which is quite rich and hast its own merit. Comparing it with Kevin Maguire's may be a problem and not exactly fair. DC kinda forced the comparison, too bad.

So, what do you think? Will you give this book a chance? If a DC book from their core line, without the "New 52" tag does succeed, it should mean something, uh? What do you think?

Spoiler-Free Comic Book Review: The Shadow 1

The Shadow #1 (2012)
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Garth Ennis
Penciller: Aaron Campbell
Reviewed by: Steven Leitman of Reading with a Flight Ring


I will be completely honest I wasn’t expecting to pick this up.  Yes it is another revival from Dynamite and yes Garth Ennis is writing this, for now at least.  I wondered what could they do to make this book relevant to today’s readers and just well “grab you by the balls and not let go.”  Instead they didn’t even try to update this book instead it is still set in a pre World War Two America.  This I absolutely LOVE people finally it is just Garth saying hey I love this character I’m not gonna make some rubbish move to change it, update it or mess with I’m just going to do my darndest by it. 

If issue one is any indication then for as long as doing the book this way I’m totally on board. 

Lamont Cranston is a self assured, confident, charismatic, self centered and aloof son of a bitch and it suits him to a T.  His knowledge is his alone and how comes to it is his business no one else’s and if they decide to act upon his words or advice is their choice and he is not going to be pressed about it.  There is fine line when arrogance turns a man into a bastard and you see that Ennis has him flirting with this line but he doesn’t go over it.  Just inches ever so closer and possibly leans over but doesn’t really cross that line.  Truly an impressive first outing here with such a highly established character.

The fact that much of his knowledge he claims comes from a misspent youth is a delightful way to divert telling the truth of his flashes of prophetic visions.  His friends and business associates, of the sort that they are, don’t know his dual identity but his lover and closest allies do.  He is non-apologetically violent when necessary but gives the men in his way a chance to redeem themselves first.  So there is compassion before the violence whether they choose to take it is up to them and I also like this about him.

No gadgets other than his mind and what it can do to go along with his guns separate him from his contemporaries making something of the first vigilante super-hero out there.  It is nice to see that he is remembered and respected and this time around his revival seems to be in the most capable hands there are. 

The interior illustrations by Aaron Campbell with colours by Carlos Lopez really do the old school feel justice while keeping the look nice, sharp and stylish.  The result of the violent scenes aren’t turned into a gore fest though there is plenty of blood it is just a tad more tasteful. 

One issue down who knows how many more to go but I’ll say this Dynamite has done it again and I’m in for this creative teams run!

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The Abnormals Special #1 – Having tea with the weird (a spoiler free review)

An imp from hell walks into a bar a meets an alien girl--

No, this is not a scene of The Abnormals, but it reminds you what it’s like to have some fun with the weird, with all of the imagination and none of the angst.  There was a time in comic book history when adventures were fun and the power of thought was king, when you didn’t have to worry about a story being too hurtful or if it was going to tie into a zillion of other books.  This is what The Abnormals seem to be all about.  Simple and weird fun, and hey, there’s a moment when “simple” is also good.

The Abnormals Special #1 is a study of an extremely diverse group with very unlikely characters teaming up together.  Grant Springford, the creator of The Abnormals,  got inspired in the 80’s Marvel comic books and Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol, and you can really tell by the particular flavor of his characters.  Not wanting to spill too much about the them for you to find out, I will just say that one comes from Hell, another one seems to be an ancestor of the homo sapiens, and there’s even one who’s connected with the astral plane.  They’re set in England bringing a new edge to the British super-hero scene.

If you want to try The Abnormals, you can order it from Grant Springford’s website:  http://www.theabnormals.co.uk/ 

He also has a fanpage in Facebook that you can visit here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Abnormals/117308118317046

It’s an endearing colorful  book and, definitely, a work of love on Grant Springford’s part.

The Phantom Menace was worse than my son hanging himself in the bathroom

No, I don't have a son, the closest thing I have is an insufferable cat with a lousy sense of direction; still, I ran into this "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" review and I liked it so badly that I had to share it with you, guys. By the way, the guy who supposedly hung himself was the reviewer's son-- his words, not mine.

The review is a little bit old. Yes, the Phantom Menace hit the theaters in 1999 if I recall correctly that lousy date in the movies, but the fan trauma still remains. A disappointment that ran for 3 movies, each time tearing apart the hope for something better.

I loved the review's tone and I hope you like it as much as I did. It certainly is better than the movie itself.



If you liked the review, there are more parts of it available on Youtube. Go hunt them down and kill them all!