Roger, Author at Comic Book Informer

Kapow: Cloak and Dagger Announced

At this weekend’s Kapow Comic Con in London, Marvel announced a three-part mini-series for Cloak and Dagger. Nick Spencer will write while Emma Rios will handle the art. This makes me unbearably giddy. I remember when Cloak and Dagger were first introduced in 1982’s Spectacular Spider-Man #64. I would have been 11 years old. I also remember when they got their own series, which I collected religiously. I never missed a single issue. I always found the characters thoroughly engaging, even as a pre-teen, and that opinion has not changed over the years. If anything, I am now better able to grasp a lot of the subtext that exists between the characters. For those who never bothered following them, Cloak and Dagger are Ty Johnson and Tandy Bowen, a couple runaways who became friends on the streets. The pair was abducted and experimented upon, which led to them to become forces of light and fear. Cloak and Dagger was an important series as it dealt with teenage homelessness, drug abuse and other serious topics. CBR reports: “These were some of the first characters I wanted to work on when I came to Marvel,” said Spencer to a packed auditorium at the inaugural Kapow convention. “The book is about their relationship and that they don’t like living without each other. They will find that there are forces vested in pulling them apart,” Spencer explained, going on to say that “I want fans to fall in love with the characters.” Cannot wait....

X-23 Issue 8: Collision, Part 1

If you haven’t been keeping up with X-23, and frankly at this point, I wouldn’t blame you if you weren’t, allow me to fill you in. In the midst of her soul searching journey with Gambit, X-23 has discovered that the former director of Weapon X, Malcolm Colcord, is thinking about restarting the project. I mean, why not? It turned out so well with X-23. This isn’t really news. We saw them creating many more clones at the end of the mini-series, and truth be told, unless you are completely new to Marvel comics, you know that Weapon X is always just beneath the surface of most Wolverine and family series. X-23 wants to track down Colcord, and so she and Gambit head to Madripoor, a cesspool of depravity. Last issue, as a means of gaining passage to the island, we saw the duo infiltrate a pirate base in the hopes of saving a police informant. The issue read very much like a filler. That said, the art was insanely cool. Kudos to Sana Takeda for that absolutely gorgeous issue. The art in issue 8 is also quite good though much more traditional. Back to the story. Laura is tracking her, what… brother… son… ? She believes Daken knows where Colcord is and intends to get the information from him. I’ve been having a difficult time with Marjorie Liu’s writing for X-23. Too often, it feels as though it is being written on the fly. Such a big deal was made about whether or not there would be a meet-up between X-23 and Daken, and finally it occurs in this issue. And I am underwhelmed. The setup to lure Daken to X-23 is weak, transparent and the fact that they made him fall for it only furthers my belief that he is one of the weakest links in the current Marvel line-up. I’ve very little use for the character, having read through all the current issues, and this did nothing to change that opinion. Furthermore, the inevitable fight scene between the two is terribly choreographed. Gambit is nowhere to be seen, the pacing is choppy, and quite frankly, X-23 should be able to slice him like a side order of sushi. She is a trained assassin. From birth, she’s known little else. Daken should not pose this much of a problem for her. However in an attempt to sell more comics and capitalize on the popularity of characters with the term “snikt” in their vocabulary, this fight continues in Daken #8. I was not impressed with this issue of X-23… and somehow I’ve a sense that I’ll feel the same about Daken #8. On a final note, someone should inform cover artist Kalman Andrasofszky that Daken’s claws are not coated in adamantium. X-23 Issue 8: “Collision, Part 1” Marvel Comics Story: Marjorie Liu Art: Ryan Stegman, Michael Babinksi, John Rauch...

Blur Studio’s Tim Miller To Direct ‘Deadpool’ Movie

20th Century Fox has decided to take a chance on the X-Men Origins: Deadpool movie. Instead of going with an established director, they have chosen to put Tim Miller in charge of the project. Don’t get me wrong, Miller’s no slouch. His company, Blur Studio, has worked on the visual effects of some big titles, and he’s directed video game trailers… however that’s a far cry from a full feature-length action movie. I would guess that Fox is banking on Ryan Reynolds being the main draw for the movie, especially considering how ill-received X-Men Origins: Wolverine was. Rumor has it Deadpool may even break the 4th wall in the movie to poke fun at X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A lot of people have been gripping about Warner Bros choosing Reynolds for the role of Hal Jordan in the upcoming Green Lantern… myself included. That said, I think he’s the perfect fit as Wade Wilson, the “Merc with a Mouth“. As much as I hated X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I enjoyed the few scenes with Reynolds as Deadpool. That alone is good enough for me right now. Hopefully Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have it in them to create a fast action, and quick-witted script for Reynolds to shine....

The Walking Dead Issue 83

I cannot for the life of me think of a single other comic book series that has gripped me so entirely. Robert Kirkman has created a world where characters introduced a mere five issues prior can become integral to plot points… characters whom you suddenly find yourself caring for very deeply. Issue 83 of The Walking Dead, titled “No Way Out, Part Four“, contains the most dramatic moment in the entire series. This is saying a lot, and anyone who has read all prior 82 issues without having gotten to 83 should take a moment and think about the weight of that statement. Remember the death of Shane and Lori. Picture Rick’s hand coming off. Think of Dale being cannibalized. The list goes on and on. More has happened in 83 issues than has occurred in popular long-running series. However nothing like this. I’d have thought something like this would have been saved for an anniversary issue (say, 100), however nope… there it is for you to stumble upon, and if you’re anything like me, your heart will have skipped a beat at what is now the most gripping single pannel in the entire series. As it is impossible to say much about this issue without spoiling it for others, the remainder of the review will continue below. I strongly urge you not to click the following link unless you have read the issue. In the words of Vince in his vidcast, “You’ve been warned”. The Walking Dead Issue 83 Image Comics Story: Robert Kirkman Art: Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones, Cover Colors)...

Should Batman Kill The Joker

I haven’t had as much time to read comic books since stopping our comics podcast several months ago. It isn’t that I haven’t wanted to read specific titles, but rather that I’ve been working on several novels. I’ve read the two newest Guild Wars novels, which I will most likely write about soon, as I loved them so entirely… as well as the first in the Diablo: The Sin War trilogy, Birthright, which I’ve not yet finished as I find I have to muscle through various parts due to my dislike of Richard A. Knaak’s style. However I’m not here to discuss his shoddy writing....

Spider-Man versus Wolverine Issue 1

Unless you were in diapers at the time, you remember how much of an impact the Cold War had on culture in the 80’s; it was in movies, on television, in books… hell, Sting even sang about it. It was also in comic books. In 1987, Marvel published the one-shot, “Spider-man versus Wolverine”. This issue was important for several reasons. As intriguing as the Cold War setting was at the time, the issue’s true strength came from its characters and their development. First, it gave us a glimpse into Wolverine’s past. Now you have to remember that we’d not yet been bombarded with the character’s origins, and so every morsel was appreciated… and devoured. Secondly, it introduced us to one of the best duos of all time; Peter Parker and Logan. Many people are reading the current “Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine” series, wondering where all of the animosity between the characters stems from. Well, look no further. “Spider-Man versus Wolverine” opens with Wolverine and a wounded friend named Charlie, in East Berlin surrounded by fifty Soviet operatives. Though writer James C. Owsley and penciler Mark Bright try not to give too much away, the foreshadowing is fairly evident from that very first frame. Regardless of the fact that Charlie’s girls are obviously strapped down, you can still tell that he’s a she… which leads us to wonder why Logan would go through all this trouble unless she’s a love interest. And that’s how a good writer/artist team can hook you in with a single panel. From there, you find out that Charlie’d taken a job for the KGB and that they’d decided to end her contract… permanently. (Insert groan here.) While Wolverine goes into a berzerker rage, slaughtering all of the Soviet agents, Charlie disappears and doesn’t resurface until years later. Without spoiling too much, Charlie’s out for revenge. You may be wondering how Spider-Man factors into all of this. Well, Ned Leeds from the Daily Bugle has uncovered some leads regarding Charlie, whose become a hot news item. He convinces Johah to send him and a photographer to Germany to investigate some recent murders of former KGB agents. As it would happen, Wolverine’s also been tracking Charlie. He wants to help her, in so much as he can, knowing that her time is very limited. Seems damn near every agency in the world wants her dead since she’s gone rogue. While walking the streets of West Berlin, Logan passes Peter Parker on the street, and recognizes him by his scent. Before you know it, the two are wreaking havoc in west and east Berlin. Tensions continue to rise throughout the entire issue, first with the death of Ned Leeds, right through till the thrilling conclusion with Charlie. The fight scenes in the issue, whether Spider-Man and Wolverine are working together, or against one another, are spectacular. And the dialogue between the two is equally engaging. Owsley also manages to insert a lot of quirky humor, without taking away from the seriousness of the actual story. The scenes of Peter trying to rent a costume are certain to make you chuckle… and they provide some insight into the similar costume joke in the new “Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine”. The art is solid, and very indicative of the time in which it was created. An interesting thing to note about the art however, is that by this time, they’d not yet settled on Wolverine’s claws; whether they sprung out through exit points on his hands, or whether they just sliced through his skin. I’ve attached a screenshot which shows the metal exit points on his bare hands. This is a classic issue that deserves a spot on any collector’s Wolverine shelf. I remember purchasing this issue when it was first released, and was saddened to sell it when I’d stopped reading comic books. One day, I’ll get my hands on a copy and be able to move on with my life. For those who read and enjoy this issue, I would strongly recommend you check out the “Spider-Man versus Wolverine What If?” one-shot that was released in March of 2008. I won’t go into too much details regarding that issue in this review, but to say that it is very, very good. It offers writers Jeff Parker and Paul Tobin a fantastic opportunity to have a lot of fun with these two characters. Expect a review for that issue soon. Spider-Man versus Wolverine Issue 1 Marvel Comics Story: James C. Owsley Art: Mark Bright, Al Williamson, Petra Scotese...

Batman Beyond Issue 1 of 6

As part of an effort to add Batman Beyond into the mainstream DC Universe, Terry McGinnis’ Batman has been making more appearances in comics, including a lead spot in the Superman/Batman Annual #4 (2010), which was actually quite good (expect a review soon). We’re also being treated to a six-part limited series which has Batman battling an old nemesis of Buce’s; Hush. This series takes place in 2039, and in terms of continuity, it’s after McGinnis defeats the “reborn Joker” in the movie Batman Beyond – Return of the Joker (check out the Original Uncut Version). Issue 1 starts with the mysterious break out of a subject at the Cadmus facility. Not much information is given here, and it’s basically just a setup for later. The action begins a few pages later with Batman fighting Spellbinder. The fight lasts 5 pages, and it’s very well choreographed, however it goes on far too long considering Spellbinder never gets off a hypnotism spell. This just doesn’t fit. Spellbinder was a high school counsellor, and yet he’s holding his own against Batman for 5 pages, doing backflips and aerial kicks. As if that were not confusing enough, Batman gets visited by Micron asking if Batman would reconsider their offer to join the Justice League. I’m hoping there will be a reason for this later in the series and that it wasn’t just put there for the few interesting panels between Terry and Bruce as they discuss Bruce’s involvement in the Justice League many years earlier. There is real friction between Bruce and Terry in this issue, and having read the next couple, I can safely say it gets worse. As Terry investigates who is killing old foes of the original Batman, he’s also having to deal with Bruce in his cowl. With the exception of the Spellbinder fight at the start, I was very impressed with this first issue. Had they chosen another foe, perhaps Inque, whom he mentions at the start of the issue, I’d have been a lot happier with it as a whole. Still, the art is absolutely fantastic, and the writing is solid. Dialogue between all of the characters is engaging, especially between Bruce and Terry. And, of course, the action doesn’t slow down for very long, which is something we’re used to with the Batman Beyond IP. Batman Beyond Issue 1 of 6 DC Comics Story: Adam Beechen Art: Ryan Benjamin, John Stanisci, David Baron...