Weekly Comic Reviews 8/22

By Daniel Alvarez on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Greetings all, welcome to this week’s edition of Unleash the Fanboy’s Weekly Comic Reviews, I’m your host, Daniel Alvarez. This time it’s IDW that steals the show, with an astonishing seven issues. Let’s get started.

America’s Got Powers #3

Tommy Watts is back in the arena in America’s Got Powers #3, with everyone – spectators, friends, and government figures – wondering if he can repeat his performance from issue one. While the story develops problems as it gets more complicated, the art is shockingly good, especially Bryan Hitch’s attention to detail and the volume of content he fits on each page.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Invincible #94

We’ve been building up to this reveal for several issues now, and my reaction is mixed. On one hand, I started to suspect what the twist would be a few pages into the issue, so it lost some of it’s impact. On the other, Robert Kirkman did a great job building up to it, and I’m looking forward to the impact on our characters, even if I wasn’t surprised.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Planetoid #3

Following the end of the previous issue, Planetoid #3 sees Silas and a group of various tribes uniting around a derelict spaceship. This set up injects Planetoid with more personality. Where as it previous focused on just Silas, the introduction of additional characters and races helps establish a greater community. With additional cast, Planetoid now feels more like a living breathing world than a one-shot. Of course, Silas’s goal is still to escape the planet, but the introduction of other people, including frogmen, brings greater themes and narrative to the series.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Super Dinosaur #13

Sometimes you just want to open a comic book to see a bunch of kids and a talking dinosaur searching another kid with a talking reptilian thing. If you haven’t been reading this arc of Super Dinosaur, you’ve been missing out. The previous issues in the story have been fantastic. This is mainly thanks to the greatly written ‘antagonist,’ the Exile. In the latest installment we find out some really interesting details as the story gets closer to its conclusion. While it may use the terms ‘cool’ and ‘awesome’ a bit too much, it’s sill not an issue to miss.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Bionic Man #12

As the description and front cover already spoil, this issue features the introduction of big foot. This addition isn’t what I was expecting from the Bionic Man comic, but it certainly takes the chances that the original TV show couldn’t pull off due to budgets or physical limitations. At the very least, the team have taken the time to attempt to blend big foot into the Bionic Man setting, suggesting a bionically enhanced beast as opposed to simply being ‘big foot’. After a slow previous issue, Bionic Man #12 kicks the action back up to speed and gets back into the story.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Kirby: Genesis — Dragonsbane #3

The main series may be over, but with Kirby: Genesis!: Dragonsbane #3, the tribute to the late, great “King of Comics” continues. With good writing and great art (my personal prejudices aside) Dragonsbane #3 is another fine edition to the Kirby: Genesis! family and to the Jack Kirby tradition.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Queen Sonja #31

Red Sonja launched a tournament for her hand, but much to her chagrin an assassin has taken advantage of the situation, killing not one by two rulers from the visiting lands. I admit I was fairly lukewarm about his story arc in my previous review for Queen Sonja #30, but the creative team steps up their game in this latest outing, delivering what can only be described as a very solid little romp.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Vampirella #21

After last month’s issue, I’ll admit I was very impressed. It’s not that I honestly thought low of Vampirella as a property but I was shocked by how much I enjoyed that issue. Every page, every interaction just clicked with me in a way that I didn’t know was possible. Thankfully the talented people behind this latest jaunt continue to work their magic, as the next story arc kicks off.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

G.I. Joe: Cobra #16

This issue can be split into two rough parts. Unfortunately, its the first that lets the issue down. The dialogue is slow, and the pacing likewise. As for the end of the title, it does what G.I Joe Cobra usually does. It develops the plot, wraps up other segments and offers a few cliffhangers or nuggets of information to keep you waiting for the next issue.

For the full review, click here.

3/5

Danger Girl/G.I. Joe #2

If you like a title that plays on the action and spy elements of both its titles, then you can do far, far worse than Danger Girl G.I Joe #2. This crossover isn’t for people who like die hard realism in their titles; this title serves only to entertain, although that doesn’t stop it being interesting at times.

For the full review. click here.

4/5

Deadworld: War of the Dead #4

War of the Dead is coming to a close next issue, which is quite sad. Never have I read a mini-series where it gets perfect scores every time. It’s the unique take on the usual zombie story that makes it interesting. It squeezes in gritty action, deep story telling, and undead action, on a weekly basis! Of course this isn’t just the humans vs. the zombies, King Zombie is the antagonist. This guy gives the undead story a purpose as we learnt his plan in the previous issue. The penultimate issue isn’t action-heavy, yet remains a great piece of storytelling with some interesting new developments.

For the full review, click here.

5/5

Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom #1

The first thing noticeable about Cargo of Doom #1 is the artistic take. The style of the comic very much feels similar to previous examples of Rocketeer. The style is far from modern, but it is certainly enjoyable. Considering this is title also serves as a great jumping on point for new readers, this has its advantages and drawbacks. For one, it doesn’t stand out amongst its fellow Rocketeer pieces of work, blending in instead of looking like an outsider. On the other hand, an updated approach might introduce the character to a broader audience.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Star Trek #12

When the Star Trek reboot hit theaters, it was only a matter of time before the space adventures found some avenue for continued exploration. In this monthly comic book series, we get to experience new mini-sagas inspired by and adapted from the original television show. The latest two-part arc is based off of an episode from the second season and the results are fascinating.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12

The themes at play in the latest iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are familiar to many long time fans, but that doesn’t mean this series is a rehash. That’s the beauty of it, the creative team offers enough creative change that they don’t alienate staples while putting their own spin on these classic characters.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Transformers: More than Meets Eye #8

More Than Meets The Eye #8 picks up right where the previous issue left off. The group of Depictions are trapped, waiting for the D.J.D (Decepticon Justice Division) unless they offer up the ‘guilty’ member. This alone highlights one of the strengths of the title, showcasing different personalities and morals within the Decepticon army. Its no longer a simple case of ‘good vs bad’, and this title takes great lengths to shed new light on both sides after such a long war.

For the full review, click here.